The Central News Agency, which carried the report, said several local and regional powers are preparing for a new round of fighting in Lebanon as an extension of Arab and regional confrontations.

Citing political circles, CNA said several pro- and anti-government factions "have an interest" in a new war.

The circles believe that some forces from the ruling March 14 coalition have an interest in stirring the security situation and gradually dragging Palestinian refugee camps into a confrontation with Hezbollah.

They said some forces in the Hezbollah-led opposition, at the same time, also have an interest in a war in the wake of stepped up talks about a possible U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities as well as progress in Israeli-Syrian peace talks.

The political circles, concerned over the arms race, urged authorities to keep a close eye on arms trafficking which is active on Lebanese territory be it in Beirut, the mountains, the Bekaa, Tripoli or Akkar.

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has warned of the deployment of "armed elements" in Akkar.

Meanwhile, Phalange party leader and former President Amin Gemayel revealed an "armed presence" in Mount Sannine has gone unnoticed.

The political circles cited the "active arms race and the stockpiling of weapons" as reason to believe that preparations for a new military battle are nearly completed "and in more than one area of the Bekaa and the north."

They said that President Michel Suleiman, who is in charge of supervising national dialogue, is aware of "what's going on."

"For this reason, he (Suleiman) made inter-Lebanese reconciliation a top priority," one political source said.

The daily As Safir on Tuesday also talked about the existence in recent days of what it called "militia phenomena."

It said the militiamen, however, did not seem to be affiliated with any of the political factions in Lebanon - a matter that raises a question: Who is responsible for arming and financing these phenomena?

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