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| Lebanese PM condemns Shia 'coup' | Lebanese PM condemns Shia 'coup' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has said his country will not fall to Hezbollah after four days of street battles in the capital left 24 dead. | |
| In his first response to Hezbollah's de facto takeover of West Beirut, Mr Siniora said his government would never declare war against the Shia group. | In his first response to Hezbollah's de facto takeover of West Beirut, Mr Siniora said his government would never declare war against the Shia group. |
| Earlier, at least two people were killed after gunfire broke out during a funeral in a Sunni area of Beirut. | Earlier, at least two people were killed after gunfire broke out during a funeral in a Sunni area of Beirut. |
| It is Lebanon's worst internal violence since its bitter 15-year civil war. | It is Lebanon's worst internal violence since its bitter 15-year civil war. |
| "Your state will not fall under the control of the coup implementers," Mr Siniora said during a televised address. | "Your state will not fall under the control of the coup implementers," Mr Siniora said during a televised address. |
| He called on the army to restore law and order across Lebanon and remove gunmen from the streets. | He called on the army to restore law and order across Lebanon and remove gunmen from the streets. |
| Restore order | Restore order |
| Mr Siniora said his government's core problem with Hezbollah was its unilateral imposition of its culture and ideology on the Lebanese people. | Mr Siniora said his government's core problem with Hezbollah was its unilateral imposition of its culture and ideology on the Lebanese people. |
| Leaders of Lebanon's rival political factions are due to meet later on Saturday and the Arab League will hold talks about the crisis on Sunday. | Leaders of Lebanon's rival political factions are due to meet later on Saturday and the Arab League will hold talks about the crisis on Sunday. |
| In a Sunni suburb of West Beirut, unidentified gunmen targeted the funeral procession of a Sunni civilian killed during clashes on Friday. | In a Sunni suburb of West Beirut, unidentified gunmen targeted the funeral procession of a Sunni civilian killed during clashes on Friday. |
| Saturday's violence came after Hezbollah militants withdrew from the streets after having crushed resistance by Sunni gunmen loyal to Mr Siniora's government. | Saturday's violence came after Hezbollah militants withdrew from the streets after having crushed resistance by Sunni gunmen loyal to Mr Siniora's government. |
| In the areas of Beirut worst affected by battles between Hezbollah and pro-government loyalists, barricades that had been set up were abandoned early on Saturday, says the BBC's Jim Muir in the Lebanese capital. | In the areas of Beirut worst affected by battles between Hezbollah and pro-government loyalists, barricades that had been set up were abandoned early on Saturday, says the BBC's Jim Muir in the Lebanese capital. |
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| Violence at the funeral | Violence at the funeral |
| But the TV station run by the Sunni leader Saad Hariri is still off the air after gunmen forced its closure on Friday, our correspondent adds. | But the TV station run by the Sunni leader Saad Hariri is still off the air after gunmen forced its closure on Friday, our correspondent adds. |
| Lebanon's cabinet said on Friday the seizure of most of western Beirut by the Shia group was "a bloody coup". | Lebanon's cabinet said on Friday the seizure of most of western Beirut by the Shia group was "a bloody coup". |
| The governing coalition said the move was aimed at increasing Iran's influence and restoring that of Syria. | The governing coalition said the move was aimed at increasing Iran's influence and restoring that of Syria. |
| The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network. | The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network. |
| The Lebanese army had not intervened to stop Hezbollah fighters from seizing large areas of western Beirut. | The Lebanese army had not intervened to stop Hezbollah fighters from seizing large areas of western Beirut. |
| But troops were deployed to protect Saad Hariri and other leading figures who support the cabinet of Mr Siniora. | But troops were deployed to protect Saad Hariri and other leading figures who support the cabinet of Mr Siniora. |
| Civil war fears | Civil war fears |
| Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. | Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. |
| High stakes of Lebanon's crisisIn pictures: Battle for Beirut | High stakes of Lebanon's crisisIn pictures: Battle for Beirut |
| Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality of the army, and its ability to withstand the sectarian tensions. | Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality of the army, and its ability to withstand the sectarian tensions. |
| The latest violence amounts to a humiliating blow to the government, which appears to have badly overplayed its hand in moving to close Hezbollah's telecoms network on Tuesday, our correspondent says. | The latest violence amounts to a humiliating blow to the government, which appears to have badly overplayed its hand in moving to close Hezbollah's telecoms network on Tuesday, our correspondent says. |
| Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the move a "declaration of war". | Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the move a "declaration of war". |
| Mr Hariri said it was a "misunderstanding" and urged gunmen from both sides to withdraw "to save Lebanon from hell". | Mr Hariri said it was a "misunderstanding" and urged gunmen from both sides to withdraw "to save Lebanon from hell". |
| An internal matter? | An internal matter? |
| The fighting has spread and clashes in the north of the country near Tripoli have left at least three people dead on Saturday. | The fighting has spread and clashes in the north of the country near Tripoli have left at least three people dead on Saturday. |
| The urban warfare has shut down Lebanon's seaport and all but closed the international airport. | The urban warfare has shut down Lebanon's seaport and all but closed the international airport. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI hope that a return to the catastrophic days of the 70's and 80's can be avoidedAndy, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI hope that a return to the catastrophic days of the 70's and 80's can be avoidedAndy, UKSend us your comments |
| The country has been without a president since last November, amid deadlock between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government. | The country has been without a president since last November, amid deadlock between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Iran and Syria of inciting Hezbollah to take up arms against the authorities. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Iran and Syria of inciting Hezbollah to take up arms against the authorities. |
| "We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," she said. | "We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," she said. |
| Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose country long dominated Lebanon, said Lebanon's political crisis was an "internal matter". | Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose country long dominated Lebanon, said Lebanon's political crisis was an "internal matter". |
| Having withdrawn its army from the country in 2005, Syria denies meddling in Lebanon's internal politics. | Having withdrawn its army from the country in 2005, Syria denies meddling in Lebanon's internal politics. |
| But Damascus has been accused of involvement in the assassination over the past three years of several anti-Syrians, including former prime minister Rafik Hariri, the father of Saad Hariri. | But Damascus has been accused of involvement in the assassination over the past three years of several anti-Syrians, including former prime minister Rafik Hariri, the father of Saad Hariri. |
Are you in Beirut? Have you been affected by the fighting? What is the situation in your area? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Beirut? Have you been affected by the fighting? What is the situation in your area? Send us your comments using the form below: |