Political division deepens in Lebanese government

In a speech at the first public rally since the end of the Israeli offensive against Lebanon, Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has renewed his attack on anti-Syrian members of the Lebanese government and criticised Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's decision to welcome British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the country, calling Blair "an associate in the murdering" and his visit "a national disaster".

Nasrallah's speech is the latest salvo in a burgeoning war of words between pro-and anti-Syrian members of Lebanon's national unity government. Since the fighting stopped in mid-August, anti-Syrian politicians have become increasingly critical of Hizbullah, claiming that its actions (in kidnapping two Israeli soldiers) dragged Lebanon into a costly and unnecessary war. They also accuse Hizbullah of perpetuating Syria's dominance of the country. Hizbullah, which has two seats in the cabinet, has countered by accusing anti-Syrian forces of siding with Israel and the US against Lebanon.

da Jane's Intelligence Review