Lebanon crisis reignites wider 'cold war'

Still, there is far more at stake in the intensifying tussle for power in Lebanon than the fate of the international tribunal. Lebanon has once more reverted to its unenviable role as an arena for local, regional, and international interests struggling to dominate and fashion the Middle East in their own respective images.

For the US, Lebanon is seen as the most hopeful prospect for a flourishing pro-Western democracy in the Arab world, giving a boost to the Bush administration's flagging democratization program. Furthermore, Lebanon is a useful tool to maintain pressure on neighboring Syria and to block Iranian influence over the Arab-Israeli conflict through its ally, Hizbullah. By the same token, the anti-Western axis grouping Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, the Palestinian Hamas movement, and others is attempting to thwart Washington's influence in Lebanon which has grown since mass anti-Syrian protests in Beirut led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon 18 months ago.

The result is that Lebanon "has now emerged as the battleground of the new regional cold war and global confrontation," wrote Rami Khouri, a Jordanian political analyst in Lebanon's English-language Daily Star. "What we have here, in fact, is the continuation in political form of the military war that was waged in July-August by Hizbullah and Israel, on behalf of themselves and their respective allies, partners, and weapons suppliers."

The escalating political battle in Lebanon has led to sharp criticism from both camps. A warning two weeks ago by Hizbullah that it would resort to street protests if the anti-Syrian majority in the cabinet refused to accede to an expanded national unity government spurred the White House to accuse the Shiite party of attempting to stage a "coup." On Saturday, White House spokesman Tony Snow described Hizbullah and Iran as a "global nexus of terrorism," adding that Tehran's support for Hizbullah had allowed the group to "perpetuate violence throughout the world."

The struggle between the competing factions in Lebanon looks set to hit the streets in the coming days.

"Going down to the streets is one of the important steps that Hizbullah and its allies will take," Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hizbullah's deputy secretary-general, told Reuters Sunday.

In response, Mr. Harb, the anti-Syrian politician, says that the pro-government forces, known as the March 14 bloc, could stage counter demonstrations.

"We are studying what we should do to counterattack," he says, adding that Hizbullah is seeking to create a "chaotic situation in the country."

"We are studying the possibility of using the same [tactics] they are using," he says, referring to street protests. "We are awaiting their first steps."

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