Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect

BEIRUT (AFP) - A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took hold yesterday after more than a year of fighting that has killed thousands, with displaced people returning home in the south, against warnings from both sides.

The truce, which began at 4 a.m., should bring to a halt a war that has forced tens of thousands of people in Israel and hundreds of thousands more in Lebanon to flee their homes.

Since early Wednesday, traffic on the road leading to the main southern city of Sidon has been congested, as hundreds of displaced people returned to their homes following the truce, AFP correspondents said.

AFP journalists saw cars and minibuses packed with people carrying mattresses, suitcases and blankets heading south, with some honking and singing in celebration.