Hezbollah 'to restore normality'

Blockades still remain on some of Beirut's main thoroughfares

The Hezbollah opposition has pledged to return normality to Lebanon, a week after battles erupted between the movement and government supporters.

The announcement comes a day after the government withdrew two key measures to curb Hezbollah that triggered clashes.

Militants loyal to Hezbollah have now begun removing roadblocks on the route to Beirut's international airport.

Arab League mediators met both sides in Beirut in an effort to end the violence which left at least 60 people dead.

Under a six-point plan, the rival parties agreed to go to Qatar on Friday to try to elect a president - Lebanon has had no president since November - and form a national unity government.

Airport officials said the national carrier MEA would resume international flights to the airport later on Thursday.

Climb down

The deputy leader of the mainly Shia political and militant movement, Naim Qassam, told a news conference Hezbollah would return the situation in Lebanon back "to normal".

The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says the government in effect backed down, retracting demands the head of airport security be moved from his job and Hezbollah's private phone system be shut down.

The network is a key element of the Hezbollah's military capability and what it calls the "weapons of resistance" against Israel.

The Hezbollah-led opposition left a national unity coalition cabinet late in 2006, demanding more power and a veto over government decisions.

The deadlock has stopped parliament from electing a new president for more than six months, creating an unstable power vacuum.