(AKI) - The Lebanese government has accused the radical militant organisation Hezbollah of violating the country's sovereignty by operating its own telecommunications network. The western-backed government on Tuesday pledged to close the system which it called a threat to national security. The challenge to the Shia militant group, backed by Iran and Syria, is likely to increase tensions in Lebanon which is suffering its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Hezbollah has been leading a campaign against the former government of prime minister Fouad Siniora since November 2006. Lebanon has also been without a president since for the past five months and the country's political leaders have been unable to reach agreement on a new leader.
A cabinet statement released on Tuesday described Hezbollah's communications network as "an attack on the sovereignty of the state" and said it would prosecute anyone involved with it. Last week, the authorities accused Hezbollah of installing spy cameras at the airport, allegedly in a bid to prepare a terror attack. Hezbollah denied the accusations.
The cabinet, which has strong backing from the United States and Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, also removed the head of Beirut airport security in another challenge to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah said the communications network was part of its military and security apparatus and played a key role in its war with Israel in 2006.