WORLD IN BRIEF : LEBANON : Aoun Pulls Back After Cleric’s Threat

Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun’s troops gave up some ground gained in the latest savage fighting with the Lebanese Forces militia as part of a withdrawal apparently prompted by church and international pressure. The troops withdrew shortly after Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir threatened Christian warlords and their men with excommunication unless they halted their month-old war for control of Christian East Beirut. Both Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea vowed in separate statements to abide by the cease-fire called for by Sfeir.