Hizbullah fighters began withdrawing from Beirut today after the Lebanese army overturned government measures against the group, witnesses said.
They said gunmen, who had taken over the capital after routing pro-government supporters on Friday, were being driven out of Beirut's seaside front and other areas. Lebanese soldiers were seen patrolling the streets evacuated by Hizbullah and its allies.
"The Lebanese opposition will end all armed presence in Beirut so that the capital will be in the hands of the army," a statement from Hizbullah said.
The statement, however, said the opposition would maintain a "civil disobedience" campaign until its political demands were met.
Hizbollah gunmen seized most of the capital's Muslim sector yesterday in the worst sectarian strife since a 15-year civil war ended nearly two decades ago.
More than 30 people are dead and at least 55 wounded since the fighting began.
The current fighting erupted this week following a decision by the Lebanese government to ban Hizbullah's private communications network after Hizbullah surveillance cameras were found at Beirut airport.
Earlier today, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the state would not fall to Hizbullah. The government and its allies has described Hizbullah's actions as "an armed and bloody coup".
The United States, which considers Hizbullah a terrorist group, a threat to Israel, and a weapon in the hands of Iran in Lebanon, said it was talking with other powers about taking measures against "those responsible for the violence".
Christian districts in east Beirut have been spared the fighting after Hizbullah defeated forces loyal to parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri.
Hariri is a son of the late Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, whose assassination three years ago began the worst turmoil in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war, which split Beirut into eastern Christian and western Muslim parts.
Hizbullah's show of military might is likely to alarm the West and its Sunni Arab allies who fear Iran's growing influence in the region and see Hizbullah as a proxy for Shia Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which back Lebanon's government, called for an Arab foreign ministers meeting as early as tomorrow.
The fighting erupted after the government said it was taking legal action against Hizbullah's military communications network on grounds it was illegal.