Junblatt: More blasts coming

Beirut: Lebanese Druze leader Walid Junblatt said yesterday he expects more bomb attacks in Lebanon, whose capital this week was hit by two explosions.

Junblatt, a fierce opponent of Syrian influence in Lebanon, also accused Damascus of backing militants who have since Sunday been battling Lebanese army troops at a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon.

Syria denies links to the group, Fatah Al Islam, which has been fighting with the Lebanese army around Nahr Al Bared camp.

"Unfortunately I expect that the explosions will increase," Junblatt told reporters in Beirut, where bombs exploded in the evenings of Sunday and Monday, killing one person.

Junblatt, along with his allies in the governing coalition, accuse Damascus of orchestrating a series of attacks in Lebanon, including assassinations of anti-Syrian leaders such as former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

The United States, France and Britain last week circulated a draft UN resolution that would set up an international tribunal for suspects in the attacks.

US supports government

A UN inquiry into the killing has implicated Syria and Lebanese officials in the Hariri killing. Damascus denies involvement.

The United States expressed support for Lebanon's government yesterday and warned Syria against any efforts to block an international trial over the murder of Rafik Hariri.

"The United States reaffirms its support for Prime Minister [Fouad) Siniora and Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government as it faces down the threat of terrorism and political violence," said White House spokesman Tony Snow.

"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 - or for that matter to take on the violence that continues to plague the country," he told reporters.

Sixty-six people have been killed in three days of fighting between the army and Islamic extremists of the Al Qaida-inspired Sunni group Fatah Al Islam, according to Lebanese army and Palestinian sources.

"We believe those behind the attacks have two clear goals: to disrupt Lebanon's security and to distract the international attention from the effort to establish the special tribunal for Lebanon," said Snow.

Snow said the United States did not know whether Syria was involved in stoking the violence, stressing: "We are still studying precisely what it is going on but it is important to send the signal.

"The Syrians have said that they wish to play a constructive role. One constructive role is make sure that you're not part of the violence," the spokesman said.

But the militia fighters and their supporters "seek to deny the people of Lebanon the democracy, peace and stability they deserve," Snow said, vowing a "redoubled effort" at the UN Security Council to create the tribunal.