International alarm at Hizbullah 'coup' in Beirut
Takeover of Muslim parts of Lebanese capital by Hizbullah forces prompts concern among western, Arab leaders. Rice restates US' support for Siniora's government; Egypt and Saudi Arabia call for urgent Arab League summit
In Lebanon's worst internal strife since the 1975-90 civil war, gunmen battled on Beirut's streets this week.
A deadlock between the Hizbullah-led opposition and Siniora's anti-Syrian cabinet, backed by Washington and its Arab allies, has paralyzed the country and left it without a president since November 2007.
The White House said it was "very troubled" by Hizbullah's actions and urged Iran and Syria to halt their support for the Shiite militant group.
The European Union, Germany and France urged calm and a peaceful resolution.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would telephone Middle Eastern leaders to discuss the crisis, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"I would restate our unswerving commitment and support for the Siniora government," he said.
"They are doing all the right things ... Its use and deployment of the military serve the best interests of the Lebanese people and Lebanon."
McCormack told reporters he was "not aware of any contemplation" of deploying US forces in the area.
Siniora poster torched in Beirut (Photo: Reuters)
He denounced Hizbullah as "armed gangs ... using violence and the threat of violence, to achieve some political end" which would only harm the Lebanese people.
McCormack said the United States had encouraged parties with influence on Syria and Iran to "tell them that they should use whatever leverage they have with Hizbullah, to tell them to pull back from these kinds of actions".
Crisis talks urged
Siniora's governing coalition pointed the finger clearly at Hizbullah's backers.
"The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean," it said in a statement read by Christian leader Samir Geagea.
Syria said the issue was an internal Lebanese affair while Iran blamed "the adventurous interferences" of the United States and Israel for the violence.
Saudi Arabia is a main backer of the Sunni-led government in Lebanon.
Lebanese army deploys in Sunni neighborhoods (Photo: Reuters)
"Egypt and Saudi Arabia have applied for an immediate meeting of the council of foreign ministers of the Arab League member countries," Egyptian state news agency MENA quoted an Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman as saying.
"The meeting is expected within the coming two days," he added.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said Hizbullah was leading Lebanon "to the verge of a civil war".
"It has nothing to do with Israel. It's an internal split," Peres said. "It's a tragedy for them. It's a tragedy for all of us." Two years ago Israel went to war with Hizbullah after it captured two Israeli soldiers.
France offered to help warring factions meet for talks, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.
"We call on everyone, each party, each force, to immediately stop the fighting and return to dialogue. We demand the barricades be lifted and the airport reopened," he added.
France and Italy said they were preparing evacuation plans for their nationals in Lebanon. Britain, France and Slovenia issued warnings against traveling there.
