( dpa ) - Lebanon's ruling majority welcomed Saturday a statement by the army command that it would keep Beirut airport's security chief, who is close to the Hezbollah militant movement, in his post until after an investigation into the movement's communication network at the airport is completed.
Four days of clashes which have so far killed more than 20 people was sparked by the government's decision to probe a communication network set up by Hezbollah and to sack Wafik Choukair over his alleged links with the militant group.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Seniora said earlier that the government is ready to put the decision in the hands of the army.
Shortly after Seniora made his speech, the army command issued a statement saying it had "decided to keep Colonel Choukair in his post as the head of security at Beirut international airport until all technical investigations are finished."
The army also called on all militants to leave the streets immediately, and stressed that soldiers would immediately start opening roads blockaded over the past few days.
A Lebanese opposition sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that "the army command statement might be a prelude to an end of the four-day clashes in the capital."
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said the government has welcomed the statement by the army, as has the head of the ruling majority, Saad Hariri, and his ally Walid Jumblatt.
The opposition has announced that it remove all its militiamen from the streets, but it will keep up its civil disobedience until the government reverses its decision regarding Hezbollah's network.