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US warship positioned off Lebanon US warship sails towards Lebanon
(about 2 hours later)
The United States has ordered a warship into position off the coast of Lebanon. The United States has ordered a warship to take up position off the coast of Lebanon in a show of support for the country's embattled government.
The USS Cole was sent there amid growing concern about the political impasse in the country, which has not had a president for four months. The deployment of the USS Cole is being seen as a warning to Syria which - along with Iran - backs the opposition.
The Western-backed governing coalition and the Syrian and Iranian-backed opposition are at loggerheads. The Western-backed government and the opposition have repeatedly failed to agree a deal to end political impasse.
A US official quoted by news agencies said the destroyer's deployment off the coast was designed as a "show of support... for regional stability". A US official quoted by news agencies said the move was "a show of support for regional stability".
The official told Reuters news agency that the US was concerned about the political deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian interference. "We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged on very long," the unnamed senior US official told Reuters news agency.
Lebanon's politicians have repeatedly failed to agree on a president amid months of wrangling between pro-and anti-Syrian factions. A US defence official quoted by Reuters said the USS Cole, a guided-missile destroyer, had left Malta on Tuesday and was heading toward Lebanon.
Clashes between supporters of the rival factions have further raised tensions and led several countries to advise their citizens against travelling to Lebanon. He stressed that once in position, it would not be within visible range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon".
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned earlier this month that the country was "on the verge of civil war." The news agency said the official had indicated that the destroyer could be replaced by the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship, which is currently heading towards the Mediterranean.
"The United States believes a show of support is important for regional stability. We are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon. It has dragged on very long," said the unnamed US official. The USS Cole was attacked in the port of Aden, Yemen, in October 2000 by water-borne al-Qaeda suicide bombers. Seventeen US sailors were killed and the ship was badly damaged.
Postponed 15 times
Lebanon has not had a president since 24 November, when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud left office. Parliament has repeatedly failed to elect a successor amid an ongoing row over candidates.
The election was postponed once again this week, and is now due to take place on 11 March. It was the 15th such delay.
There are fears that the political deadlock could lead to escalating sectarian violence.
Recent clashes between supporters of rival factions have further raised tensions and prompted several countries to advise their citizens against travelling to Lebanon.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned earlier this month that the country was "on the verge of civil war".
The setting up of an international tribunal to try the assassins of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri is another source of tension.
Syria is widely blamed for the February 2005 car bomb attack that killed Hariri, but Damascus has denied any involvement.
Two months after the assassination, amid US-led international pressure, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon, ending a 29-year occupation.