Lebanese Christians Seized, Freed

Lebanese Shia Muslim gunmen kidnaped at least 50 Christians on their way to Beirut airport Sunday while rival Christian and Muslim militias unleashed their bloodiest barrage in the capital in two months, killing at least six people and injuring more than 47, security officials reported.

The captive Christians, most of whom were abducted on two airport buses, were released unharmed after three hours.

Officials said the renewed sectarian fighting, which was confined to Beirut’s southern suburbs Friday and Saturday, engulfed most of the city Sunday as the militias pounded one another with artillery and rocket exchanges. The fighting raised the weekend toll to at least 16 killed and 91 wounded.