Saudi says Lebanon violence may affect Iran ties

By Souhail Karam

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday Iranian-backed Hezbollah's routing of the Western-backed government's supporters in Lebanon could affect the Islamic Republic's ties with Arab countries.

"Of course, for Iran to back the coup that happened in Lebanon and support it will have an impact on its relations with all Arab countries," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said at a news conference.

Lebanon's army stepped up patrols on Tuesday as part of a drive to restore order after a week of fighting between Hezbollah fighters and pro-government gunmen.

Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Muslim movement backed by Iran and Syria, and its opposition allies have routed supporters of the Sunni-led government in Beirut and hills to the east in fighting that has pushed Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected accusations Iran was meddling in Lebanon and blamed the violence on the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic's foes.

"Iran is the only country not interfering in Lebanon," he told a news conference, adding that the violence was "Lebanon's war with things imposed by America".

"Why do you provoke? Why have you armed some groups and created a war?" he added, referring to the United States.

Prince Saud said his U.S.-allied country, a Sunni Muslim power and strong backer of Lebanon's government, was concerned about what he called the "coup" that had taken place in Lebanon.