Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition supporters would stage an open-ended sit-in from Friday onward to topple the current government, said a statement issued by the opposition bloc on Thursday.

"The Lebanese opposition calls the Lebanese to attend a peaceful demonstration and open-ended sit-in in downtown Beirut at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) Friday to demand the formation of a national unity government to replace the current one," said the statement.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also delivered on Thursday a speech on the Shiite group's al-Manar television, calling on supporters to attend the street protest against incumbent government led by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.

"We appeal to all Lebanese, from all areas of Lebanon, to take part in a peaceful and civilized demonstration on Friday afternoon to show the public demand of forming a national unity government in place of the current incapable government," Nasrallah said in his televised speech.

Soon after his speech, intense gunfire and firecrackers were heard in several neighborhoods of the capital.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud later expressed his hope that Friday's street protests called by the pro-Syrian opposition would be peaceful.

"I urge demonstrators to be aware of any move by outsiders to turn those demonstrations into rioting," said Lahoud, a close ally of Hezbollah, in a statement released by his press office.

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, a Christian opposition leader, on Wednesday called on his supporters to take to the streets to demand formation of a new national unity government.

"We are going to take to the streets peacefully. The other camp is obliging us to do this," said Aoun, another ally of Hezbollah.

Although the opposition leaders reiterated that Friday's protest should be a peaceful and civilized one, there are fears that any attempt by demonstrators to take over government buildings could lead to violence. Groups that support Seniora's government have previously vowed to call for counter- demonstrations.

Lebanese army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman said on Thursday that his troops were fully prepared to fulfill their role of " protecting freedom of expression and preventing riots and attacks on public and private property."

While warning of the possibility of a violent showdown and calling for restraint from all sides, Suleiman ordered soldiers to "keep the same distance from everyone and safeguard security of all citizens, including pro-and anti-government parties."

He also said that soldiers should not hesitate to intervene to prevent clashes between the two sides.

Meanwhile, anti-Syrian Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa said that security authorities were ready to confront any attempt to undermine foundation of security, stressing that protestors should obey laws and regulations.

Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and pro-Syrian allies have earlier mobilized for mass street protests to topple incumbent government led by Seniora following the cabinet's Nov. 13 approval of a UN draft document for the creation of an international tribunal on former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's killing.

Six pro-Syrian ministers resigned earlier this month after the country's leaders failed to reach an agreement on formation of a national unity government.

In the wake of the resignation, the pro-Syrian bloc said that Seniora's government had lost its legitimacy since Shiite Muslims are no longer represented.

The anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, however, has accused Hezbollah and Amal movement, the main pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Shiite groups, of doing Damascus' and Tehran's bidding and seeking to undermine formation of the tribunal.

Source: Xinhua