Mediators to defuse tension

A high-level Arab League delegation began a mediation mission in Beirut yesterday to try to pull Lebanon back from the brink of civil war.

The delegation will seek to defuse tension between the US-backed governing coalition and Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which has routed its rivals in the worst spate of violence among Lebanese since the 1975-90 civil war. At least 81 people have been killed since violence broke out on May 7.

(China Daily 05/15/2008 page11)