Hezbollah tightens control of Beirut

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The United States, which considers Hezbollah a terrorist group, a threat to Israel, and a weapon in the hands of Iran in Lebanon, said it was talking with other powers about taking measures against "those responsible for the violence".

On the streets of Beirut, fighters from the Iranian- and Syrian-backed group continued to man checkpoints on main thoroughfares, although in smaller numbers than a day earlier.

Traffic was thin as many residents chose not to go to work and Beirut's international airport remained closed.

A few shops reopened after the army deployed in several areas but did not interfere with Hezbollah guerrillas, who in turn stayed away from main government installations in Beirut.

Hezbollah took control of the Muslim west Beirut on Friday in what the government and its allies described as "an armed and bloody coup". At least 18 people have been killed and 38 wounded since the violence began four days ago.

The United States criticised Hezbollah's links to Damascus and Tehran. A U.S. State Department spokesman said Hezbollah's actions were illegal.

Christian districts in east Beirut have been spared the fighting after Hezbollah defeated forces loyal to parliamentary majority leader Saad al-Hariri. Hariri's supporters still controlled areas in the north of the country and kept a key crossing point with Syria in the Bekaa Valley shut.

Hariri is a son of the late Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, whose assassination three years ago began the worst turmoil in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war, which split Beirut into eastern Christian and western Muslim parts.

HIGH STAKES

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