Hezbollah says to seek new govt by all legal means

BEIRUT, Oct 30 (Reuters) Hezbollah will seek the formation of a new Lebanese government through all democratic means, including the resignation of its two ministers and street protests, the group's senior MP said today.

Hezbollah and its allies have been demanding a new government since a 34-day war between Israel and the Shi'ite Muslim guerrillas ended in August.

The group, backed by Syria and Iran, has been a fierce critic of Western-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora whom it sees is keen to disarm its guerrillas.

''We are careful to practice all democratic and legitimate means to express our stand and our rejection of the continuation of this situation and to work towards forming a government of national unity,'' Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, told reporters.

''We will take all available democratic steps to achieve this goal including resigning from the government,'' he said.

Raad was speaking after holding separate talks with key opposition leaders Michel Aoun and Omar Karami.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri delayed yesterday talks with Lebanon's feuding political leaders aimed at defusing a crisis threatening the country's stability after several anti-Syrian leaders said they could not attend because they would be out of the country this week.

Berri, a Shi'ite leader allied with Hezbollah, had asked politicians to hold talks for up to 15 days from today to discuss demands for a government change and a new election law.

The talks will now start on November 6 and last only a week.

They are widely seen as the last chance to avert a showdown that could spill into the streets and threaten Lebanon's stability.

Anti-Syrian coalition members which dominate Siniora's government had dismissed the call for a national unity government, prompting Hezbollah and its allies to threaten street protests to force a change.

The coalition, which supports international calls for the disarming of Hezbollah, has a majority in parliament. But Siniora's 24-member cabinet also includes two ministers from Hezbollah and three from Berri's Amal group.

Hezbollah wants more of its allies included, especially Christian opposition leader Aoun and pro-Syrian groups.

Berri has hosted several ''National Dialogue'' meetings this year, but these have lapsed since war erupted on July 12 after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.

REUTERS PDM RK2310