The politics that have become so divisive on the Lebanese streets have reached the nation’s TV screens, prompting Lebanon’s media council chief Abdel-Hadi Mahfouz to blame certain channels for stoking sectarianism and engaging in political insults. “Media institutions are strongly asked to ease tensions and avoid transmitting news that might lead to strife,” he urged. Lebanon has been plunged into a power struggle for three months now, ever since the Hizbullah-led opposition, mainly comprised of Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, pitched their tents in downtown Beirut to call for the overthrow of the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Fuad Seniora. Over the past five weeks the situation has become increasingly tense, following clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters that have left at least seven dead and 190 wounded. Purchases of automatic weapons have also reportedly risen, and in early February the government seized a cache of arms intended for Hizbullah,
