The World : U.S. Envoy Leaves Beirut

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon John McCarthy and his staff were evacuated from Beirut because of deteriorating relations with Christian army commander Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun and his supporters, official sources said. Two U.S. helicopters with McCarthy and his staff aboard left the heavily fortified embassy in Christian East Beirut early today, the sources said, and flew to Cyprus. The evacuation came after hundreds of Christians began a siege of the embassy compound to protest Washington’s policy in Lebanon. Aoun, whose troops are locked in a bitter conflict with Syrian and Muslim militia forces, accused the United States in a news conference Saturday of backing Syria’s “occupation” of Lebanon and said the Bush Administration is working to divide Lebanon.