The World : 2 Militias Battle in Beirut

Beirut’s two most powerful militias fought each other with grenades, heavy machine guns and automatic weapons, killing six people and wounding 16, police said. The Druze Progressive Socialist Party, headed by Tourism and Transportation Minister Walid Jumblatt, and the Shia Muslim Amal militia of Justice Minister Nabih Berri began fighting during the morning rush hour and forced thousands of people to stay home while others were trapped in businesses and offices. The fighting reportedly erupted over the Amal kidnaping of two members of the Druze militia. After six hours, Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam telephoned Berri and Druze officials, and they agreed on a cease-fire, militia sources said.