for continuing to use pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to serve Syria's interests.

Europe has also expressed concern over Syria's reluctance to let Lebanon be. U.S. and European officials accused President Bashar Assad's government of using new tools in an attempt to control the Lebanese, via political and economic manipulation.

The European Union is scheduled to hold a working session on the growing crisis in Lebanon on Monday in Brussels. Washington is consulting with the international community for a solution to put an end to Syria's domination over Lebanon.

U.S. and European officials also charged that Syria continues to maintain presence in Lebanon through intelligence agents, who were supposed to be removed by the end of April, according to U.N Resolution 1559.

The White House blamed Damascus explicitly for blocking the three attempts by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to form a cabinet of Ministers. Lahoud vetoed all three, despite the support of the majority of Parliament for the last iteration.

Political interference

Under pressure to put a cabinet in place, and move Lebanon out of the current political stalemate, Siniora yesterday presented Lahoud with another proposed cabinet. Siniora claims to have the support of more than 100 members of the 128-member parliament for the latest attempt.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones charged that Lahoud is now "preventing the will of the Lebanese people from being carried out." Lahoud has the veto power, and is allegedly abusing it to serve Syria's interests rather than Lebanon's.

Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. Imad Moustafa denied that Syria has a role in Lebanon, calling the accusation "ridiculous" and said "does not merit a comment."

Despite the very public demands made by many members of parliament for Lahoud to resign over his allegiance to Syria, and his inability to control the never ending saga of political assassinations, Moustafa appears to be turning a blind eye: "Not a single Lebanese has complained that Syria is interfering in what is going on in the Lebanese political scene ... The United States is the one that is interfering."

Economic stranglehold

Syria has prevented Lebanese goods from passing through the Lebanese-Syrian border, where Beirut averaged 300 export shipments per day prior to Syria's withdrawal, over the past two weeks the number has dropped to a staggering zero. Jones said Syria is now trying to "undermine the Lebanese economy by blocking Lebanese exports so that millions of dollars of produce rots" at the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Damascus blames the delays on increased checks to prevent weapons and explosives being smuggled into Syria. Many Lebanese however believe Syria is being revengeful, after enduring a humbling withdrawal as a result of the Valentines Day assassination, which targeted and killed Rafik Hariri.

Hundreds of truckers have been stranded for over a week between the Lebanese and Syrian customs posts. "It usually takes two minutes to drive from one to the other, but I have only moved a few inches in a week," said a Lebanese truck driver.

Many of the trucks are carrying fruit and vegetables, forcing drivers to keep engines running continuously to work the refrigeration units.

"I have run out of fuel and I have no money and all my fruit has gone rotten," says one disgusted truck driver. "All I want to do is go home."

The economic crisis is threatening 50,000 jobs in Lebanon, and is estimated to be costing $300,000 a day in lost business.

"This is an obvious attempt to create an economic stranglehold on the most vulnerable sector of Lebanon's economy -- farmers and small merchants," a State Department official said. "Syria has historically been the gate through which Lebanese produce and products go to the rest of the region. Syria is now pulling out every dirty trick from its importation guide to have maximum dilatory effect."

"Yes, the new security measures are causing some trouble for those who want to cross," he said, noting that Syrian officials pledged this week to try to streamline the new arrangements. "It is not an issue that warrants statements from the State Department. It will be addressed and resolved," the Syrian Ambassador said.

The State Department official countered: "It's not a question of a slowdown, inspecting and new measures that slow movement. This is a roadblock."

According to the State Department, Damascus banned a Lebanese mineral water company from Syria and jailed the local distributor because of resemblance between the shape of the bottle cap and the Star of David on the Israeli flag.

On Friday Syria arrested five Lebanese fishermen and seized their boats after they strayed into Syrian territorial waters from the northern port city of Tripoli.

Sources: Ya Libnan, Washington Post, Naharnet, CSM