WASHINGTON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday the United States welcomes the statement by the Arab League foreign ministers on the Lebanon situation.

    "I think it was a good statement," Rice said.

    The statement showed the Arab League's rejection of the use of armed violence to achieve political goals outside the framework of constitutional legitimacy, and the need for a withdrawal of all weapons from the streets, Rice said.

    Arab League foreign ministers issued a statement after an emergency meeting in Cairo on Sunday and called on all Lebanese to cease fire and end acts of violence.

    The Arab foreign ministers called on gunmen to withdraw from the streets to help Lebanon army maintain stability in the country, where sectarian fighting between anti and pro-government supporters recently left at least 24 people dead and dozens of others injured.

    Deadly clashes in Lebanon erupted Wednesday after the Lebanese cabinet decided Tuesday to cease the private communication network of the leading opposition group of Hezbollah and remove airport security chief Gen. Wafik Shqaier for alleged links to Hezbollah.