Fierce clashes involving rockets and heavy machine guns erupted in Lebanon on Sunday between pro-government forces and opposition gunmen in mountains east of Beirut. At the same time Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in an effort to find a solution to the worsening crisis.

The increasing violence outside the capital marked a dangerous escalation of an armed conflict that began after Hizbollah, the Shia militant group, and its opposition allies sealed off the airport and seized areas of west Beirut last week.

The clashes, which will heighten fears the country is sliding back towards civil war, did subside on Sunday night, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy. ... Read full article