Lebanon's army today said it will use force from tomorrow to stop fighting in the country between pro- and anti-government forces.
"Army units will halt violations . . . in accordance with the law, even if that leads to the use of force," a military statement said, adding the order would be implemented from 6 am local time tomorrow.
In the northern city of Tripoli, pro-government Sunni Muslim gunmen and militiamen allied to Hizbullah guerrillas fought today.
The upheaval began when Iran-backed Hizbullah and its allies overran the strongholds of their Sunni political foes in Beirut last week.
Hizbullah and its pro-Syrian allies have swept through Beirut and hills to the east in a series of victories since May 7th, defeating loyalists of the US-backed government.
At least 36 people were killed on Sunday in fighting between Hizbullah and its pro-government Druze opponents east of Beirut, bringing the overall toll to 81 dead and about 250 wounded.
Parliament postponed a vote on a new Lebanese president for the 19th time, delaying the session to June 10th from Tuesday.
Hizbullah's success has dealt a blow to the ruling Sunni-led coalition and its main patron, the United States, which has cast the country as a fragile democracy endangered by the ambitions of Hizbullah and its Iranian and Syrian backers.
US President George W. Bush said he will discuss Lebanon and Iran during a Middle East visit this week. Mr Bush is due to meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Egypt on Sunday.