A disturbing article in Naharnet, the English language translation of Lebanon's largest Arab daily An Nahar.

Thanks to Hezb'allah's obstructionism in blocking the selection of a consensus candidate for President - current military chief General Michel Suleiman - and their continued insistence that the opposition deserves to have veto power over cabinet decisions of the majority government, the political crisis that has roiled the tiny country for more than a year is gradually spilling into the streets:

Fears are mounting that Lebanon's prolonged political crisis could spill out on to the streets after a spate of protests over government paralysis and worsening living conditions.

In recent weeks, protesters have blocked roads leading to the airport, setting fire to garbage bins and rubber tires, while skirmishes have erupted between members of the Sunni and Shiite communities.

And on Thursday, Lebanon was braced for more violence, with the army deployed heavily in Beirut and elsewhere amid a nationwide strike called by the farmer and public transport syndicates.
 
[snip]
 
Although security forces have managed to contain the various recent protests, the simmering tension has prompted alarmist headlines and warnings of all out civil strife.

"The threat of an escalation becoming more real" said a headline in the L'Orient Le-Jour daily this week.