Lebanon army 'ready to use force'


The Lebanese army has so far not intervened in the clashes


The Lebanese army has said it is prepared to use force to disarm gunmen and restore order across the country.
It follows a week of clashes between supporters of the Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.
At least 60 people are believed to have died in the violence.
There is a strong army presence in Beirut, the northern city of Tripoli and in the Chouf mountains south-east of the capital.
But correspondents say much of Beirut remains paralysed by street barricades, and the international airport is still closed.
The sectarian violence is the worst since the end of the 15-year civil war in 1990 and has led to fears of another all-out conflict.
An army statement issued late on Monday said: "Army units will prevent any violations, whether by individuals or groups, in accordance with the law even if this is going to lead to the use of force."
US offer of help
On Monday, US President George W Bush offered to help strengthen Lebanon's army so it can disarm Hezbollah.
In an interview with the BBC, he said the Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement had acted against its own people and was destabilising the country.



He made the remarks ahead of a trip to the Middle East this week.
Overnight there were renewed clashes in the northern city of Tripoli but by early on Tuesday troops were reinforcing their presence on the streets.
There was similar violence in Tripoli on Monday but no fighting was reported in other areas. In the capital, Beirut, the situation remained calm.
The recent unrest began after the government moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut's airport for allegedly sympathising with Hezbollah.
The army has stayed neutral in the conflict emerging as the only factor preventing a complete collapse in Lebanon.
It is generally agreed that its commander, General Michel Suleiman, should be the next president.
Political deadlock
For the past 16 months, Lebanon has been locked in political stalemate between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government.
Lebanon has not had a president since November, when Emile Lahoud stepped down despite parliament failing to agree on his successor.





Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers. Many Lebanese are now wondering where the latest crisis will go from here.
An Arab League delegation trying to mediate an end to the fighting is expected to arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday.
Speaking to the BBC's Arabic television channel, President Bush said the US would ensure the Lebanese military had "the practical equipment" it needed to act against Hezbollah's armed wing.
"They're moving against the Lebanese people and it should send a signal to everybody that they're a destabilising force," he said.
Hezbollah would be nothing without Iranian backing, he added, commenting that Iran was the source of much instability in the Middle East.
Mr Bush said he will focus on Lebanon when he visits the region - meeting Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The US is also sending its guided missile destroyer the USS Cole back into the Eastern Mediterranean. Its action has angered Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition. Sources have warned that any hint of American intervention would lead it to abandon the few red lines it has observed in its campaign to undermine the government.

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