Refugees threaten to upend Lebanon

Refugees threaten to upend Lebanon - The Boston Globe: "The tide of refugees threatened to upend the delicate sectarian balance in Beirut's neighborhoods, which still bear the shell pockmarks from 15 years of civil war that ended in 1990.

Toufic Al Hindi, a former adviser to the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party, said the Christians want a strong state that will preserve power-sharing between Christians and Muslims. ``We don't want to see a weak state with mini state of Hezbollah. It is not acceptable to have armed groups," he said. ``That will destroy Lebanon. This could trigger a national war."

Hezbollah has displayed its organizational prowess, mobilizing hundreds of security guards with cellphones and walkie-talkies to schools across Beirut.

The Shi'ite group sent security guards and food supplies -- canned tuna, processed cheese, and fresh bread -- to hundreds of schools across Beirut, as well as to the underground parking garage that was converted into a displaced persons camp."