BLOW TO RULING COALITION
Hezbollah's success has dealt a blow to the Sunni-led ruling coalition and its main patron, the United States, which has cast the country as a fragile democracy endangered by the ambitions of Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian backers.
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he would consult regional allies during his forthcoming visit to the Middle East on ways to bolster Lebanon.
"It is critical that the international community come together to assist the Lebanese people in their hour of need," Bush said in a statement. He will travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, starting on Wednesday, and plans to meet Siniora in Egypt on Sunday.
He said the United States would continue to aid the Lebanese military so it can defend the government.
In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the United States and key European and Middle Eastern nations condemned the violence in Lebanon and urged all parties to end the fighting.
"We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Lebanon, which threatens the stability of the country and the region," the "Friends of Lebanon" said in a statement.
"We call for the immediate cessation of fighting, the withdrawal of gunmen from the streets, the unblocking of roads and the reopening of Beirut International Airport."
Western and Saudi support has so far done nothing to deter Hezbollah from exposing the military weakness of its foes, such as Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri and Druze chief Walid Jumblatt, whose mountain fiefdom was attacked on Sunday.
On the political front, the government has for 18 months resisted opposition demands for veto rights in cabinet, though Hezbollah has now shown it has the military muscle to veto decisions it dislikes.
The turmoil has paralysed state institutions and left Lebanon without a president since November. The election of a president by parliament was postponed to June 10 from Tuesday, the 19th delay caused by the crisis.
An Arab League mission will arrive in Beirut on Wednesday to mediate between the rival leaders.
