Lebanon's political crisis showed no sign of easing today, with the pro-Syrian opposition pressing on with its protest campaign to topple the Western-backed government.
Thousands of protesters supporting Hezbollah and its allies spent a second night in tents in central Beirut, within earshot of the office-turned-residence of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
"We are not letting them [ministers] sleep, we're disturbing them with our noise. We have the resilience to stay not for one month, but a year or two," said Ahmed Kayello (20) from south Lebanon, sitting on a grassy slope.
A sea of orange, the colour of Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun's movement, an ally of the Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah, gathered in front of the St George Cathedral in central Beirut where a Maronite Christian priest conducted Sunday mass.
A Lebanese flag, a dominant symbol used in the latest protests to promote national unity as opposed to party affiliations, hung opposite the church with "Free Patriotic Movement", Mr Aoun's party name, written on it.
The opposition led by Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has been demanding effective veto power in the government whose majority consists of anti-Syrian politicians.
But these politicians insist the opposition only wants to weaken the government and derail a UN tribunal which would try suspects in the 2005 slaying of ex-premier Rafik al-Hariri. A preliminary UN inquiry has implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials.
Government supporters stayed away from central Beirut today, heeding calls by leaders to stay calm and avoid street confrontations.
"We assure the Lebanese that change is coming soon. A national unity government will be achieved," Hezbollah member of parliament Hussein Haj Hassan told the group's al-Manar television from the camp city.
Mr Siniora, who has vowed he would not be forced out by the protests, has won expressions of support from Arab and Western governments, including the United States, Britain and Germany.
Political sources from both camps said there were no serious moves to find a solution to the deadlock.
Although the dispute is political, many Lebanese fear the situation could spark sectarian violence. Tension between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims is high. There are also bad feelings among Christians who are divided between the rival camps.
Hezbollah has repeatedly criticised Mr Siniora's government over what it says was its failure to back the group during the 34-day summer war with Israel.
Six opposition ministers resigned from the cabinet after talks on national unity collapsed. Nevertheless, the depleted government approved plans for the tribunal, which served as a catalyst for the latest protests.
The cabinet was also weakened by the November 21st assassination of anti-Syrian minister Pierre Gemayel.