Christian-Muslim Duels Erupt in Beirut

Christian and Muslim militias battled in fiery duels across Beirut on Saturday, killing two civilians and forcing police to close the only gateway linking the divided city. It was the first serious flare-up in three months.

The clashes coincided with the arrival of President Elias Hrawi in Muslim West Beirut, where he set up his office and residence and received credentials of the Vatican representative, Pablo Puente.

The action marked the Vatican’s recognition of Hrawi’s government and further isolated the Christian army leader, Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun, in his rejection of the government.

Aoun’s supporters, at his request, staged a “human chain of demonstrations” along the 25-mile route from Aoun’s residence to Puente’s home to protest the Vatican’s move.

Other protesters went to Puente’s home to deliver a message of protest from Aoun.

Thunderous shell blasts and bursts of gunfire echoed across the Muslim and Christian sectors as soldiers of Aoun’s army battled with Syrian-backed Muslim militiamen. Both sides accused the other of shooting first.

A police spokesman said the clash was “the gravest violation” of a cease-fire called by the Arab League on Sept. 22 to halt six months of fighting between Aoun’s troops and Syrian forces. Until Saturday, there had been only minor clashes.

An artillery shell crashed into the Christian side of Beirut and killed two civilian men, police said. Two other people were wounded in exchanges that engulfed nearby districts.

The fighting broke out in the morning, eased at noon and picked up again in the afternoon, forcing police and army units to close the mid-city Museum Crossing, the only gateway linking Muslim West Beirut and Christian East Beirut.

The latest deaths brought to 931 the number of people killed in Christian-Muslim duels since Aoun in March declared his intention of driving Syria’s 40,000 troops out of Lebanon.

Aoun rejects Hrawi’s presidency because it came about as a result of an Arab League plan aimed at ending the 14-year-old civil war but not setting a deadline for the withdrawal of the Syrians.

All foreign countries with diplomatic missions in Lebanon have recognized Hrawi’s “national reconciliation” government, which was formed in November to oversee implementation of the plan.

Puente said during the Vatican credentials ceremony that the Holy See favors dialogue to resolve the crisis between Hrawi and Aoun.

But a stung Aoun later emerged from his residence outside Beirut and told cheering demonstrators that “there is no room for dialogue.”

He drew wild applause when he vowed to bring to justice Hrawi and all Parliament members who approved the peace accord.

Hrawi, who like Aoun is a Maronite Catholic, fired Aoun as army commander and interim prime minister in November.

Hrawi and his wife, Mona, arrived in West Beirut in a 10-car convoy escorted by Lebanese army and police units.

Meanwhile, fighting raged in southern Lebanon between militiamen of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and the Syrian-backed Amal. No new casualties were reported.