Lebanon's army deployed more soldiers in Beirut this evening after the killing of a pro-Syrian Shia Muslim demonstrator raised fears anti-government protests could turn into sectarian violence.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa warned the crisis could worsen and indicated he had discussed ideas for a solution with Lebanese officials during a 24-hour visit to Beirut.
Security sources said the military increased its forces in Sunni districts that Shia protesters drive through to get to central Beirut where the Hizbullah-led opposition is holding a sit-in to try to topple the Western-backed government.
These districts saw clashes between residents and protesters on Sunday - from stone-throwing to fights with knives.
In the most serious incident, gunmen fired assault rifles at a group of protesters in a Sunni neighbourhood, a stronghold for the anti-Syrian majority coalition, killing one man.
The body of Ahmed Mahmoud was brought to the protest site, where thousands of anti-government demonstrators read Koranic verses over a coffin wrapped in a Lebanese flag.
The opposition plans a mass funeral tomorrow and said the death would not halt its drive to unseat the government.
"Siniora out, we want a free government," the crowd chanted during a night rally at the tent camp, referring to the Western-backed Sunni prime minister, Fouad Siniora.
A few thousand soldiers and police were deployed around Beirut on the fourth day of the protests. Troops sat atop armoured vehicles at road junctions.