World Notes LEBANON

After 15 years of a civil war that has claimed 150,000 lives, Lebanon last week saw what could be the first glimmer of peace. Lebanese Army troops took full control of the capital for the first time since 1975 and dismantled the "green line," which cut the city into Christian and Muslim sectors. Earlier, the last of the Christian forces loyal to Samir Geagea had pulled out of the city and moved north, near the port city of Jounieh, completing the first phase of a Syria-backed Arab League plan to free Beirut of all rival militias.

The war-weary Lebanese greeted the pullout warily. Fighting between rebellious militias scuttled efforts to unify Beirut in 1976 and 1984. Asked a commentator on a Beirut radio station: "What guarantees do we really have that history won't repeat itself?" The answer may come during the next phase of the peace plan, which calls for the government to disband the rival militias and implement a system that would address the concerns of both Muslims and Christians.