A warning out of Lebanon as the head of the Alawite community says unrest could engulf the entire country.

In recent days clashes have broken out in Lebanon from sectarian spillover from the conflict in Syria.

Refaat Eid an Alawite supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, says it can get worse.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALAWITE LEADER REFAAT EID SAYING:

"I don't just mean Tripoli, I think things will be worse across Lebanon. Look, the explosion will be in Tripoli but honestly, if the state doesn't take terrorism seriously -- especially terrorism exported from Syria to Lebanon -- then Lebanon will pay the whole price all ts sects -- everyone will pay the price."

He says it will take a regional peace to end the violence.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALAWITE LEADER REFAAT EID SAYING:

"I think that there will be no solution unless it is a regional agreement. Either the whole region will explode or it will all be settled in an agreement. I think that th