The unfolding refugee crisis is become the biggest humanitarian tragedy in Europe since the Yugoslav wars.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora sought to calm the Lebanese today - the country's first day without a president - assuring them that the military, which has vowed to stay out of politics, is on the streets to prevent violence while deadlocked factions work to resolve the crisis.

Police and army troops in Lebanon sealed off downtown Beirut today as the parliament tried to meet to elect a new head of state.

Pope John Paul II named six new saints today, including a woman who became a symbol for abortion opponents because she refused to end her pregnancy despite warnings that it could kill her.