On television, commentators from various political parties and sects insisted they did not want to return to the civil war, and prominent politicians called for calm after some of the worst violence in years.
“Today we see the same factors that led to the Lebanese war,” said Sammy Gemayel, president of the Lebanese Kataab Party, a Christian faction on Lebanon’s MTV channel. “If things continue like this, they are heading towards the destruction of the country,” he said.
Mr. Gemayal said the country has not seen the changes needed to ensure peace.
“Today’s view will be repeated because the same factors exist,” he said, citing weapons, a lack of trust and outside interference in Lebanese affairs. “The most important factor is that the state does not bear its responsibility.”
The most recent flash point was the tension over the investigation into last year’s port explosion.
Supporters of Hezbollah, the powerful Shia Muslim militia and the political party dominating Lebanon, came out on Thursday to protest what they said was biased by Tarek Bitter, the judge appointed to investigate the blast. He said gunmen from Lebanese forces, a Christian party, had fired upon him while protesting.
Other politicians also blamed Lebanese forces for instigating the violence, which left six dead and 30 injured.