Heavy fighting has broken out in northern Lebanon between pro and anti-government supporters, while the capital, Beirut, remains calm as government troops patrol the city.

Lebanese security officials say fierce clashes erupted early Sunday in the northern port city of Tripoli between Sunni supporters of the Western-backed government, and allies of the Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah.

At least one person was killed in the fighting, bringing the death toll after five days of clashes in Lebanon to 38.

Security is tight in Beirut Sunday after Hezbollah fighters pulled back from areas they had seized, easing the worst sectarian violence to hit Lebanon since its 1975 to 1990 civil war.

The 22-member Arab League is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Cario Sunday on the Lebanese crisis.

Hezbollah agreed to withdraw after the army overturned the government's decision to dismiss the Beirut Airport security chief for his alleged ties to the group.

Hezbollah also welcomed the army's pledge to handle the group's controversial communications network in a way that does not harm Hezbollah or the nation's interest.

But the militant group warned it will maintain a "civil disobedience" campaign until its political demands are met.  It did not specify those demands.

The government last week declared Hezbollah's communications network illegal.  Hezbollah said the measure was a declaration of war.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.