Army ups Beirut presence

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MIDDLE EAST TIMES

AMMAN, Jordan — Lebanon's army, facing intense criticism for failing to intervene during six days of fighting between Hezbollah and pro-government militias, established a strong presence yesterday in Beirut, Tripoli and the Chouf Mountains overlooking Beirut.

Amid an uneasy calm, the army warned it would begin confiscating weapons after avoiding gunbattles between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and fighters loyal to the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

"Army units will prevent any violation, whether by individuals or groups, in accordance with the law — even if this is going to lead to the use of force," the army said.

Both the government coalition and the opposition have agreed on army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as the "consensus" presidential candidate to fill the post that has been vacant since November.

However, both sides have repeatedly failed to come to terms on the makeup of the next government and the powers each of Lebanon's sectarian factions will wield.

Police put the casualty toll at 62 people dead and almost 200 injured. However, the actual figure was believed to be higher in the worst strife the country has seen since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

President Bush and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal both accused Iran, a major patron and financier of Hezbollah, of fueling the Lebanese conflict and attempting to undermine Mr. Siniora's pro-Western government.

Mr. Bush told BBC Arabic TV that Iran was "the crux of many of the problems in the Middle East," and that Hezbollah "would be nothing without Iranian support."

The Lebanese army, made up of soldiers from the country's various Muslim and Christian communities, has been under a microscope since the fighting broke out.