They attributed that partly to the advance work of Hezbollah and Amal leaders.

Amal leaders have been quoted as demanding that the new Parliament be enlarged to give greater representation to "all militias and institutions."

The Amal leader, Nabih Berri, went to the battlefield Tuesday to try to boost the morale of his followers.

Amal leader and Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri has alleged that Dirani sold Arad to the Iranians for 500,000 dollars.

Amal officials speculated that the intended target had been an Amal headquarters nearby, and the mission a possible kidnapping of an Amal leader.

"The Israelis will enter Kafr Rumman over our dead bodies," the Amal leader, Nabih Berri, said.

The Iranian press attack against Syria came 24 hours after Amal leaders held Iran responsible for the fighting among the Shiites.

The Amal leader, Nabih Berri, has accused the Party of God of seeking to destabilize southern Lebanon in a way that would invite Israeli retaliation.

Amal leaders say their strategy is to prevent southern Lebanon from reverting to the situation of eight years ago, when the area was controlled by guerrillas of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

He was named to this post by Amal leader and Hezbollah ally parliament speaker Nabih Berri.