The Lebanese Army has deployed thousands of troops in Beirut neighborhoods, following the as-yet unexplained shooting death of a Shiite anti-government protestor on Sunday. Rock-throwings and other clashes have occurred in the Lebanese capital over the past few days, as the Hizbullah-led protestors camp out in the streets and demand the government's resignation.
Hundreds of Shiites tried to block the city's main highway leading to the airport, but the security forces succeeded in dispersing them.
The father of the dead man said he was considering avenging his son's death, which he attributed to pro-government elements. He said he changed his mind, however, in the face of requests from his religious leaders for "peace and unity."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has warned that the unrest in Lebanon could lead to civil war - a familiar phenomenon in Lebanon over the past decades - and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, who made an emergency visit to Beirut yesterday, also warned that the crisis could worsen.
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora himself says that the country's democracy is endangered, but insists he has no plans to step down. He warned that any attempt by the Hizbullah supporters to break into his office "will lead to serious and grave problems."
The current conflict began several weeks ago when the government's Hizbullah members resigned. They had demanded a national unity government, which would have effectively granted them veto power over national decisions.
The protestors, camping out in some 300 tents in downtown Beirut not far from Siniora's office, show no signs of dispersing. It is feared that today's mass funeral may ignite the crowd and turn violent.
Israel is concerned over the situation in its northern neighbor. The Lebanese Army is currently one of the elements reining in the militaristic tendencies of Hizbullah, in keeping with the UN ceasefire following the war of this past summer. However, most Israeli Cabinet ministers say that there is nothing for Israel to do at present, other than to be prepared and to encourage the U.S. and Europe to step in.
Hundreds of Shiites tried to block the city's main highway leading to the airport, but the security forces succeeded in dispersing them.
The father of the dead man said he was considering avenging his son's death, which he attributed to pro-government elements. He said he changed his mind, however, in the face of requests from his religious leaders for "peace and unity."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has warned that the unrest in Lebanon could lead to civil war - a familiar phenomenon in Lebanon over the past decades - and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, who made an emergency visit to Beirut yesterday, also warned that the crisis could worsen.
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora himself says that the country's democracy is endangered, but insists he has no plans to step down. He warned that any attempt by the Hizbullah supporters to break into his office "will lead to serious and grave problems."
The current conflict began several weeks ago when the government's Hizbullah members resigned. They had demanded a national unity government, which would have effectively granted them veto power over national decisions.
The protestors, camping out in some 300 tents in downtown Beirut not far from Siniora's office, show no signs of dispersing. It is feared that today's mass funeral may ignite the crowd and turn violent.
Israel is concerned over the situation in its northern neighbor. The Lebanese Army is currently one of the elements reining in the militaristic tendencies of Hizbullah, in keeping with the UN ceasefire following the war of this past summer. However, most Israeli Cabinet ministers say that there is nothing for Israel to do at present, other than to be prepared and to encourage the U.S. and Europe to step in.