From the Christian Science Monitor:

The deadline for Lebanon’s presidential election is less than three weeks away and with no signs of consensus over a candidate among feuding political factions, many Lebanese fear a violent outcome.

The rising tensions come amid heightened speculation that Lebanon’s political factions are arming themselves, resuscitating old militias from the 1975-90 civil war and building new ones in anticipation of street battles ahead.

Black-market arms sales have soared in the past year as worried Lebanese seek to protect themselves. The weapon of choice is the AK-47 assault rifle. A year ago, the most popular version of this classic weapon, the 1977-vintage “circle 11″ (named after the markings stamped into the rifle’s metal work) fetched around $500.

“It will cost you $900 now,” says Mr. Jamil.