In shops and cafes, people not working for the Israelis or their Lebanese allies shy away when approached by outsiders.

Syria and its Lebanese Muslim allies even threatened to enter the Christian enclave, which had been considered off limits for 14 years.

He offered to negotiate with Syria and its Lebanese Muslim allies for an end to the country's 15-year civil war.

The zone was carved out in 1985, and is controlled by Israel and its Lebanese allies.

Scores of panicked militiamen and family members fled into Israel, which promised to provide at least temporary refuge to its Lebanese allies.

Israel would also guarantee that no attacks would be made by its Christian Lebanese allies in the zone.

The killings were carried out by Lebanese Christian allies of invading Israeli forces.

The benefit for Assad of this alliance was more complete control of Lebanon through his indigenous Lebanese allies.

The Syrians and their Lebanese allies have not fully endorsed the agreement.

Palestinian hard-line groups and their Lebanese allies, including the Party of God, have vowed to wreck the accord.