BEIRUT, March 8 (Reuters) - Security forces in south Lebanon arrested a weapons dealer and his son in possession of three shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles, an internal security forces statement said on Thursday.

It said the man also confessed he had once acquired two of the same surface-to-air missiles -- Soviet-made SAM 7s -- from a base for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command south of Beirut and later sold them.

The dealer, a Lebanese man, admitted he belonged to the PFLP-GC. He and his son were stopped in the southern town of Nabatiyeh last week.

Lebanese security forces have recently uncovered several caches of hand grenades and small explosive devices around Lebanon but it is unusual to discover sophisticated weaponry in the hands of arms dealers.

A political crisis in Lebanon, which pits the Sunni Muslim-led government against the Shi'ite-led opposition, has already resulted in sporadic lethal clashes and spurred fears of citizens rearming themselves. Weapons dealers have said increased demand has pushed up gun prices recently.

AlertNet news is provided by