After heavy fighting in Chouf, PSP offices handed over to Lebanese army

Source: AFP, 11-5-2008
Calm prevailed in Beirut on Sunday as opposition forces gradually relinquished control of western areas of Beirut to the Lebanese army, and residents of the affected areas were cautiously returning to the streets.
Other areas continued to see heavy fighting, however. Heavy fighting raged in the Druze areas ranging from Aaytat, southeast of Beirut, and the mountain town of Aley, as well as neighboring Chouiefat and Ain-Anoub, Sunday afternoon. Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt negotiated with opposition aligned Druze Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan to cease fire and hand over PSP offices to the Lebanese army.
Though opposition forces made quick work taking over western Beirut on Thursday, three Hizbullah fighters were killed in Aley on Friday night and one taken prisoner when opposition forces attempted to move into the Druze stronghold. Jumblatt was still holed up in his headquarters in the Clemenceau area of western Beirut Sunday afternoon.
LBCI television reported that Jumblatt had spoken to opposition aligned Druze leader Talal Arslan. Jumblatt said, "I called Talal Arslan to mediate a deployment of the army in the mountain." Jumblatt called on his followers to make "civic peace" the priority.
Arslan, in televised remarks on Sunday, urged all opposition forces to cease fire immediately and allow the army to deploy in the area. Areslan said, "I confirm to the opposition and government that this mountain, and the Druze in this mountain, are honest in embracing the honorable resistance, that sacrificed so much, to preserve the identity of Lebanon."
"I agreed to negotiate on these matters as I and Jumblatt agreed with my colleagues in Hizbullah to hand all areas in al-Jabal to the army, in addition to whatever arms are found in storage and security centers.," he added. LBC reported that a cease fire was to take effect at 6:00 PM.
The army issued a statement saying that "Brigadier General Wafik Shoukair will remain in his post until appropriate procedural measures have been taken after a probe."
"As for the telecommunications network, the army will look into the issue in a manner that is not harmful to the public interest or the security of the resistance" against "Israeli", it added.
The military said it had taken these decisions in the light of a government wish that it rule on these matters.