by Henri Mamarbachi, BEIRUT (AFP) – Tensions ran high in Lebanon after a Shiite was killed in a Beirut street fight near a mass rally against the Western-backed government, stoking fears of a descent into sectarian strife.

The killing in a pro-government neighborhood was the first violent incident since the launch of the open-ended protest on Friday, threatening to take an already heated cauldron of political division to boiling point.Hundreds of army troops were manning armored vehicles on every street corner of the district where the clashes erupted, while at the protest, Hezbollah’s civilian-clothed security men were maintaining a tight grip on the crowds."Arab countries cannot stand by and watch a situation that could get worse," said Arab League chief Amr Mussa after meeting President Emile Lahoud.

Hezbollah has spearheaded the protest against a government it accuses of being corrupt, weak and no longer representative of the Lebanese people after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month. Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s government has dug in its heels, insisting that only talks, not protest, can solve Lebanon’s political crisis. But the opposition has vowed to continue the demonstration until the government falls

By Nadim Ladki, Beirut – Lebanon’s army deployed more soldiers in Beirut on Monday after the killing of a demonstrator raised fears anti-government protests could turn into sectarian violence. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa warned the crisis could worsen and indicated he had discussed ideas for a solution with Lebanese officials during a 24-hour visit to Beirut.

Security sources said the military increased its forces in Sunni districts that Shi’a protesters drive through to get to central Beirut where the Hezbollah-led opposition is holding a sit-in to try to topple the Western-backed government.These districts saw clashes between residents and protesters on Sunday – from stone-throwing to fights with knives.

In the most serious incident, gunmen fired assault rifles at a group of protesters in a Sunni neighbourhood, a stronghold for the anti-Syrian majority coalition, killing one man.The body of Ahmed Mahmoud was brought to the protest site, where thousands of anti-government demonstrators read Qur’anic verses over a coffin wrapped in a Lebanese flag.

A Lebanese police officer stands guard in downtown Beirut in front of a Christmas tree and a poster of assasinated Lebanese industry minister Pierre Gemayel on 19 December 2006.

To view more pictures of the last week activities in Lebanon and Beirut, please click Read More (New pictures are added in a daily basis)

BEIRUT – Hundreds of thousands of protesters from the Free Patriotic movement, Hizbullah and its opposition allies massed Friday in downtown Beirut seeking to force the resignation of Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who was holed up in his office ringed by hundreds of police and combat troops.