Lebanon opposition demands early elections - washingtonpost.com

Lebanon opposition demands early elections - washingtonpost.com: "Lebanon opposition demands early elections

By Tom Perry
Reuters
Monday, December 18, 2006; 11:41 AM

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's opposition, led by Syrian-backed Hezbollah, called on Monday for early parliamentary elections after the ruling anti-Syrian coalition refused to meet its demand for veto power in government.

The call for early elections, an escalation in opposition demands, could complicate Arab League efforts to end Lebanon's worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. Many Lebanese fear the standoff could turn violent.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa is due in Beirut on Tuesday to meet the rival Lebanese politicians. He held talks on Sunday with leaders in Saudi Arabia, which supports Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government."