US:The Bush administration issued its most pointed warning yet to Syria yesterday as another truce broke down and fighting was renewed at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.
With 40,000 Palestinian refugees caught in the crossfire, UN workers warned that the death toll could be high and reported having seen many demolished buildings with people still trapped inside them.
Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, read out a prepared statement in Washington in which he specifically named Syria. "We believe those behind the attack have two clear goals: to disrupt Lebanon's security and to distract international attention from the efforts to establish a special tribunal for Lebanon."
The UN is trying to set up the tribunal to continue the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, for which Syria has been blamed.
The US supports the Lebanese government, led by Fouad Siniora, which has been trying to shake off Syrian control.
Mr Snow said: "We will not tolerate attempts by Syria, terrorist groups or any others to delay or derail Lebanon's efforts to solidify its sovereignty or to seek justice in the Hariri case."
The Lebanese army yesterday asked the Pentagon to provide more ammunition for it to continue its assault. The US, which has given $30 million (€22 million) in equipment to the Lebanese army over the last 12 months, is likely to comply.
Although the US is blaming Syria, Fatah al-Islam is reported to have been funded by Saudi Arabia as a Sunni group to counterbalance Hizbullah, a Shia faction funded by Iran and, to a lesser extent, Syria.