Arab League peace-keeping forces, led by Syrian troops, entered the Moslem western sector of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Thursday (11 November).

SYNOPSIS: In the course of the 19-month civil war in what was once the cultural and economic capital of the Middle East, Beirut has been split in two -- with the predominantly Moslem left wing and its Palestinian allies firmly entrenched in the western sector along the sea-front. The mainly Christian right wing, supported in the latter months of the war by Syrian troops which were once allies of the left wing, have held onto the eastern side of the Lebanese capital. But following last month's Arab League peace plan agreed in riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Syrians have partially switched allegiance ad went over to spearheading the League's white-painted peace-keeping force, over-riding both left and right wing factions in an effort to bring peace to the nation.

One right-wing soldier in the border area between the two parts of the divided city found a new role -- directing traffic across the invisible frontier.

But the peace wasn't to last for long -- by Friday (12 November) both sides were fighting again with artillery and rockets. Between clashes, life had to go on -- with a brisk trade in open-air markets taking the place of war-damaged shops.