Siege that threatened war is lifted in Lebanese town
| Haouche al-Omara, Lebanon
The three-month siege of the Christian town of Zahle, which brought the Middle East to the verge of war, was lifted Tuesday when Lebanese forces moved in to replace the garrison of right-wing Christian militiamen.
The siege by troops of the all-Syrian Arab Deterrent Force was lifted under an agreement reached after lengthy negotiations among several Arab countries. The agreement provided for Lebanese internal security forces to replace Phalangist militiamen who are not n atives of Zahle.
