US: Hezbollah must be 'accountable' for Lebanon unrest

US: Hezbollah must be 'accountable' for Lebanon unrest

The United States blamed Hezbollah as well as its patrons Iran and Syria on Friday for deadly unrest that has pushed Lebanon to the edge of civil war, and warned they must be held "accountable."

"The United States is consulting with other governments in the region and with the UN Security Council about measures that must be taken to hold those responsible for the violence in Beirut accountable," the White House said.

A senior US official declined to list any specific steps, and emphasized that there would not be a "one-size-fits-all" approach to Tehran, Damascus, and the Shiite militant group that Washington brands a terrorist organization.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice strongly reaffirmed US support for pro-Western Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and reached out to key world leaders for ways to buttress his government.

"We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," she said in a statement.

Rice discussed the crisis by telephone with her French and Saudi counterparts, Bernard Kouchner and Prince Saud al-Faisal, as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, according to spokesman Sean McCormack.

She was also expected to reach out to Siniora.

As the White House declared itself "very troubled" by the unrest, Rice denounced the violence and singled out Syria and Iran for backing Hezbollah, which she accused of trying "to protect their state within a state."

"We condemn the use of violence by illegitimate armed groups and call upon all parties to respect the rule of law," she said.

"Backed by Syria and Iran, Hezbollah and its allies are killing and injuring fellow citizens, undermining the legitimate authority of the Lebanese government and the institutions of the Lebanese state," said Rice.

State Department officials, who declined to be named, said the United States would provide diplomatic and political support to Siniora, ruling out any military backing for the time being.

Hezbollah fighters Friday seized control of west Beirut after three days of deadly street battles with pro-government foes which have pushed Lebanon dangerously close to all-out civil war.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe urged Hezbollah to "stop their attempt to defy the lawful decisions" of the government, which recently opted to probe the group's private communications network -- triggering a violent response.

"We also urge Iran and Syria to stop their support of Hezbollah and its destabilizing effects on Lebanon," he told reporters.

President George W. Bush, on his Texas ranch for the wedding of one of his daughters, still hopes to meet with Siniora in Egypt next week -- but would understand if the prime minister cancelled his visit, said Johndroe.

"We certainly expect to see Prime Minister Siniora in Sharm el-Sheikh next week. The president would like to see him next Saturday or Sunday. But if he feels the situation on the ground doesn't permit him to do that, we understand that as well," said the spokesman.

As Saudi Arabia called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to defuse the crisis, Johndroe urged "the countries in the region to support the democratically elected government of Lebanon."

And McCormack charged that there was evidence of Syria-linked individuals and groups "fanning the flames of violence" in Lebanon.

As the fighting eased, Lebanese army and police moved across areas now in the hands of Iranian- and Syrian-backed opposition forces which have been locked in an 18-month power struggle with the ruling coalition.

"After months of paralyzing the democratically elected Lebanese government, Hezbollah has now turned its arms against the Lebanese people and challenged Lebanon's security forces for control of the streets," said Johndroe.

A senior State Department official who asked not to be named suspected Hezbollah's gambit was to stage a "show of force" that would draw compromises from the pro-Western majority.

"We don't know for sure what is going to happen in Lebanon," the official said. "But the idea of a Hezbollah coup d'etat that is sustainable in Lebanon does not strike me as very realistic, just given the demographics."

But as foreigners scrambled to leave it was unclear what the immediate future would hold, amid fears the protracted political feud could plunge Lebanon back into the dark days of the 1975-1990 civil war.