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Is Lebanon Heading for Another Civil War?

Tensions are at an all time high in the Middle-Eastern country of Lebanon following the assassination of a Christian Member of Parliament, Pierre Gemayel. Gemayel was the fifth politician slain in a period of two years by what is presumed to be Syrian-backed Islamic extremists, who seek to topple what they consider a US-backed government headed by the present Prime Minister, Fuad Saniora.

Lebanon ended a horrific 15-year civil war in 1990, which divided its people. The country?s population is divided into roughly three parts of Christians, Sunni Muslims and Shi?ite Muslims. The Shiites are considered the most extreme and see Hassan Nasrallah of the Hizbollah as their leader. They receive support ? both financially and morally ? from the regimes in Iran and Syria and are considered to be terrorist movements by Western definitions. Nasrallah headed an unprovoked war against Israel in the summer that brought about a massive loss of lives and infrastructure on both sides of the border.

With the murder of the 34 year-old tourist minister, Gemayel, many analysts fear that Lebanon is heading for another civil war after years of relative stability. Nasrallah has urged his supporters (about 1 million within a nation of 4 million people) to take to the streets in a show of solidarity against western intervention in the operation of the country and the failure of Saniora to properly lead Lebanon.