Crawford (US): The United States has blamed Hezbollah as well as its patrons Iran and Syria 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 yesterday.

A senior US official declined to list any specific steps and emphasised 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.
Source : PTI