Hezbollah Fighters Take Over West Beirut, 13 Dead

Hezbollah gunmen seized control of west Beirut Friday, amid sectarian fighting in the Lebanese capital that recalled the turmoil of the country’s civil war two decades ago. Three days of clashes between Shi’ite Muslim Hezbollah fighters and militias loyal to Lebanon’s U.S.-backed government have killed at least 13 people, and wounded more than 20 others.

Fighters from Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, set up roadblocks and took up positions in areas that were previously Sunni Muslim strongholds.

Hezbollah also shut down a television station “Future Movement” owned by Saad al-Hariri, a leader of Lebanon’s governing coalition, and burned the offices of an affiliated newspaper.

A spokesman for U.S. President George Bush, Gordon Johndroe, Friday said the White House is “very troubled” by Hezbollah’s actions, and stands by the Lebanese government.

Mr. Bush will discuss the crisis with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora during talks in Egypt next week.

A U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will telephone Middle Eastern leaders about the situation.

Saudi Arabia, which backs the Lebanese government, is calling for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which could take place as soon as Sunday. However, Hezbollah’s supporters in Damascus and Tehran say the upheaval in Beirut is something the Lebanese should settle on their own.

Road travel through much of Beirut is impossible, and the violence has forced closure of the city’s port.

With Lebanon’s pro-Syrian opposition groups saying the new roadblocks will remain in place, France and Italy are preparing evacuation plans for their nationals in Beirut. Britain has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon.

Fighting in the city’s Muslim sector escalated sharply on Thursday, after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said a government crackdown on his group amounted to a “declaration of war.”

Lebanon has been in a political stalemate since last year, with the ruling coalition and the opposition unable to pick a new head of state and form a unity government.

by VOA News

Net News Publisher

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