Hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah-led protesters have rallied in Lebanon's capital to demand the Western-backed government step down.
Opposition supporters have been camping out in central Beirut since December first, paralyzing the capital. Protesters have vowed not to move until Prime Minister Fuad Siniora bows to their demands for a national unity government.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in the northern city of Tripoli.
Mr. Siniora has said there should be negotiations, and insists he will not resign.
The prime minister and the Sunni-led ruling majority have refused opposition demands and accuse the Shi'ite Hezbollah of trying to stage a coup in the aftermath of the group's 34-day war against Israel earlier this year.
Pope Benedict today called on Lebanon's political leaders to unite for the good of the country. He also called on the international community to help solve the crisis.
Opposition supporters have been camping out in central Beirut since December first, paralyzing the capital. Protesters have vowed not to move until Prime Minister Fuad Siniora bows to their demands for a national unity government.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in the northern city of Tripoli.
Mr. Siniora has said there should be negotiations, and insists he will not resign.
The prime minister and the Sunni-led ruling majority have refused opposition demands and accuse the Shi'ite Hezbollah of trying to stage a coup in the aftermath of the group's 34-day war against Israel earlier this year.
Pope Benedict today called on Lebanon's political leaders to unite for the good of the country. He also called on the international community to help solve the crisis.