The Syrian- and Iranian-backed Shiite movement last fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006.

The three Arab nations are ruled by Sunni Muslims who have long been wary of organized Shiite movements.

In the 1970's, a Shiite movement called Amal began working within the Lebanese political system.

The three major Shiite movements each have militias.

The Shiite movement has also relaxed its blockaade against the Palestinian areas.

In that region, the Shiite movement is trying to prevent a revival of the Palestinian guerrilla presence that Israel suppressed with its 1982 invasion.

The other established Shiite movement, the Dawa Party, has already taken a more conciliatory approach to participation in a transitional government.

But both countries have defied American requests to control Hezbollah, the militant Shiite movement in southern Lebanon.

But several attempts in the past week by the secular and mainline Shiite movement to recover Jarjuh failed.

He said a high-ranking figure in the Shiite movement Amal bought a house in Paris and plans to spend a year or two there.