Lebanon takes steps to avoid war

BERUIT, Lebanon, May 15 (UPI) -- Lebanon has rescinded two decisions that had angered Hezbollah, apparently avoiding another civil war, government sources said Thursday.

The Shiite Muslim group's followers celebrated what they saw as a defeat for the U.S.-backed government in its latest confrontation with Hezbollah and its allies, The Washington Post said Thursday.

The Lebanese Cabinet angered Hezbollah to the brink of war last week with an inquiry into a telecommunications network set up by Hezbollah and a reassignment of the head of security at the Beirut airport. It has since reversed those actions.

The 18-month political struggle has paralyzed the country, leaving Lebanon without a president since November and effectively closing parliament.

The Cabinet cast the decision on the two decisions that upset Hezbollah as a move "in view of the higher national interest," rescuing Lebanon from a civil war that seemed dangerously close, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi announced.