Lebanese Factions Shoot It Out In Beirut

In this photo released by Hezbollah media office, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, right, meets with Lebanese majority leader lawmaker Saad Hariri, left, in Beirut, Lebanon, late Thursday June 25, 2009. Lebanon's Hezbollah says the group's chief met with the leader of the Western-backed parliament majority in another step ahead of the expected formation of a unity government. Hariri is expected to be nominated for the post. (AP Photo/Hezbollah Media Office)

1 Killed As Rivals Trade Gunfire In Beirut -- MSNBC

Violence underscores continued sectarian tensions despite political pledges.

BEIRUT - Sunni supporters of Lebanon's prime minister-designate and Shiite rivals from the parliament speaker's political faction traded gunfire in a Beirut neighborhood Sunday. Security officials said one civilian was killed and two others were wounded in the first outbreak of violence since this month's elections.

Automatic rifle fire and three explosions were heard in the brief gunbattle that underlined the continued sectarian tensions despite recent pledges by political leaders to work together. Those pledges followed a bruising election campaign.

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Update: Army warning follows Beirut unrest -- Al Jazeera

My Comment: Since their defeat in Parliamentary elections last year, and with Hezbolah's chief ally (Iran) having problems at home, this was inevitable. The key is to make sure that it does not spiral out of control.