World Notes LEBANON

In a televised speech from his hillside bunker in a suburb of Beirut, Lebanese Christian leader General Michel Aoun described last Saturday as nothing less than "the beginning of the chance to achieve peace." He then proclaimed acceptance by his forces of a seven-point peace plan advanced two weeks ago by the Arab League. The plan has been endorsed by Syria, which has more than 30,000 troops in the strife-torn country, and its Lebanese allies. It marks the first time since the two sides began waging open warfare six months ago, at a cost of more than 800 lives, that both sides have accepted a truce proposal.

Arab League envoy Lakhdar Ibrahimi, who brokered the deal, promised that an immediate cease-fire would permit residents of battle-ravaged Beirut "to reopen their shops and return to their homes." The plan also calls for a lifting of blockades on Lebanese port cities. If the cease-fire holds, ! Lebanon's parliament is expected to convene this week to discuss political reforms demanded by the country's Muslim majority.