BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric said Tuesday that U.S. is intervening in Lebanon as part of a desperate attempt for victory in the region after its "failures in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine."

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was commenting on last week's announcement by U.S. President George W. Bush that the U.S. will freeze the assets of people deemed to be undermining Lebanon's government.

"America's intervention escalated in Lebanon in the recent period because of the American administration's need to guarantee a political victory," Fadlallah said in remarks distributed by his office.

He added "the American administration is trying to achieve any gain in the shadow of the embarrassment hitting it because of its failures in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine after the failure of Israel's war on Lebanon and the retreat of America's project in the region."

The Hezbollah-led opposition in Lebanon has been locked in a fierce power struggle with the Western-backed government of Fuad Saniora. The opposition's main demand has been the formation of a national unity Cabinet that would give the opposition veto power. Saniora, backed by the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and the U.S., rejects the opposition's demand.

Syria had significant control over Lebanon before its troops were forced to leave in 2005 because of international pressure following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Many in Lebanon believe Syria was behind the killing — a charge Syria denies.

Bush's executive order targets people found to be helping Syria assert control in Lebanon or otherwise undermine the rule of law. -AP