Hezbollah says opposition holding back from ousting cabinet

"The opposition has the political, popular and organisational strength to bring down the unconstitutional government tomorrow or the day after," Nasrallah told supporters in Beirut.

"What has so far prevented the fall of this clique that is clinging to power is not international support but the patriotic feelings of the opposition and its desire to preserve civil peace."

Hezbollah and its opposition allies have been mounting a round-the-clock protest outside the cabinet's Beirut offices since December 1, demanding its replacement by a government of national unity.

The opposition, along with President Emile Lahoud and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, charges that the cabinet has been in violation of the power-sharing arrangements introduced after the 1975-90 civil war since the resignation of six pro-Syrian ministers in November.

On Tuesday, the opposition observed a one-day strike that sparked clashes with government supporters in which three people were killed.

Nasrallah, whose movement's influence was sharply increased by the fierce resistance it put up in last summer's conflict with Israel, insisted that the opposition had respected the rule of law during Tuesday's stoppage but charged that government supporters had not.

"The July war showed how many weapons we have... but we did not resort to those arms yesterday, even though those who insist they have none did use weapons."

Nasrallah charged that the Western-backed administration of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora was a "government of militias," in allusion to the Christian components of the governing coalition -- the Lebanese Forces and the Phalangists.

He said the opposition was open to foreign mediation, particularly by Iran -- Hezbollah's main backer -- and Saudi Arabia, a key financier of Siniora's government.

"But any connivance between two countries or two governments, even ones we respect, cannot be imposed on Lebanon," he warned.

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