By Yara Bayoumy BEIRUT, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa renewed his efforts in Lebanon on Tuesday to end a political standoff which many Lebanese fear could turn violent. He is facing an uphill struggle to end the crisis -- Lebanon's worst political split since the 1975-1990 civil war. "I still hold the view that there is hope," Moussa said upon arrival at Beirut airport. He met leaders of all the main factions last week and reported progress but no breakthrough. Anti-Syrian leaders who control the government and are backed by the United States are at loggerheads with the opposition, led by Syrian-backed Hezbollah, over its demand for veto power in cabinet. The opposition has declared the government illegitimate and on Monday raised its demands by calling for early parliamentary elections. Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem, whose group is also backed by Iran, told Reuters on Tuesday it was up to the governing coalition to respond to Moussa's proposals. "Let's see what Amr Moussa is carrying with him and what will be the answers of the ruling coalition to his initiative -- whether they will be responsive to it or thwart it," he said. The anti-Syrian coalition say the opposition wants to open the door to more Syrian and Iranian influence. Moussa is due to meet Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Nabih Berri, an opposition leader and Lebanon's parliament speaker. Analysts say the conflicting interests of the rivals' international backers are complicating the mediation. Moussa held talks on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, which backs Siniora. RICE URGES SUPPORT FOR SINIORA Moussa said he would visit Syria later in the week and was in touch with all countries in the region, including Iran. Damascus was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon last year after international pressure and mass protests triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. Many Lebanese blamed the killing on Syria, which denies involvement. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged international support for Siniora in an interview with Dubai-based Al Arabiya television. "What Lebanon needs most is that it needs its neighbour Syria, which has occupied the country for 30 years, to leave it alone and let Lebanese resolve these issues," she said. Iran should also halt support for Hezbollah, she said, according to a transcript of the interview obtained by Reuters. Opposition ministers quit the cabinet last month when talks on giving them more cabinet seats collapsed. An open-ended opposition protest in central Beirut, near Siniora's offices, entered its 19th day on Tuesday. Supporters of Hezbollah and its main allies -- the Amal Movement and Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun -- have erected hundreds of tents in the city centre. The anti-Syrian coalition says the opposition is trying to bring down the government to derail plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri assassination. Hezbollah and Amal say they support the idea of the tribunal but want to discuss the details.
