Beirut to axe Hezbollah telecoms

Lebanon's government has declared an extensive telecommunications network run by the powerful Shia opposition movement, Hezbollah, illegal.

The Western-backed government said it would close down the system, which it called a threat to state security.

Tension is also high after the chief of security at Beirut airport was removed for alleged Hezbollah sympathies.

Last week the authorities accused Hezbollah of installing spy cameras at the airport - allegations it denies.

The Lebanese government announced a series of security decisions after a marathon cabinet session which lasted until after 0400 (0100 GMT) on Tuesday.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says government-opposition tension and invective is already extremely high and the latest decisions are bound to be seen as confrontational by the opposition.

The political crisis has left Lebanon without a president since November 2007; parliament has aborted 18 attempts to elect a head of state since then. BBC