Lebanon's Media War

February 01, 2007

Lebanon has been mired by unrest ever since a 34-day Israeli assault on the Hezbollah Shiite militia there last summer. Fears that the crisis could slide into armed conflict grew after clashes at the end of January between opposition and government supporters that left seven people dead and about 300 injured. Media organisations in Lebanon are as varied and opinionated as the country's political players. With tension mounting, a veritable media war is breaking out between the respective mouthpieces of the government and the opposition. Many fear though that the battle on the airwaves could be fanning trouble on the ground. (c) 2006 AFP