Kuala Lampur, April 17 --  

BEIRUT, April 17 - A ten-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect today, as US President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

The truce, which Trump said would begin at midnight local time in Lebanon and Israel (2100 GMT), comes as Washington steps up efforts to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, with Tehran insisting a Lebanon truce must be part of any agreement.

Gunfire rang out in Beirut's southern suburbs, Hezbollah's heartland, as the ceasefire came into effect-an apparent bout of spontaneous celebration, although that could not be confirmed.

The Middle East war began when the United...