Nasrallah tells Hezbollah to prepare for protests

BEIRUT, Nov 19 (Reuters) Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in remarks broadcast today, called on his followers to prepare for peaceful protests to topple what he described as a US government in Lebanon.

He told them to get ready to take to the streets to demand a national unity government or early parliamentary elections but did not say when Hezbollah, in conjunction with other opposition forces, would call for the protests.

''We need to be prepared,'' Nasrallah told hundreds of Hezbollah activists who have been tasked with organising the protests. The meeting was yesterday but broadcast by Hezbollah's Al Manar television today.

Opposition ministers from Shi'ite Muslim groups Hezbollah and Amal quit the government on November 11 after the collapse of all-party talks over their demands for a decisive say in government, throwing Lebanon into political crisis.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah and other opposition forces could protest for days or weeks ''until we impose, via our peaceful, civilised and democratic means, the downfall ... of the illegitimate, unconstitutional government -- the government of (US ambassador Jeffrey) Feltman, not the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.'' The charismatic cleric, whose group is backed by Syria and Iran, repeatedly said Hezbollah would not allow protests to turn violent. Sectarian strife was a red line, he said.

''We will not allow any clash, even with the other street'', Nasrallah said, in reference to pledges from leaders of the ruling majority to match opposition rallies with their own.

''We form a national unity government -- a national unity government in which the principal political forces in the country will have a real participation, not superficial. This is one option,'' Nasrallah said.

''The other option is early parliamentary elections.'' ''US-CONTROLLED'' Nasrallah repeatedly said the government was controlled by the United States, which lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. Nasrallah has accused Washington of encouraging Israel during its war with Hezbollah in July and August.

He described U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a ''blood sucker'' and said the anti-Syrian ruling majority had banked on Israel destroying Hezbollah during the conflict.

''Frankly, they felt a bitter defeat because of what happened in the last war which Israel launched on Lebanon and upon which they were betting to destroy the resistance,'' he said.

The ruling majority claims that the pro-Syrian opposition withdrew from government to try to block progress towards the establishment of an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A UN inquiry into the killing has implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials. Damascus has denied involvement.

Nasrallah reiterated that the resignation of the Shi'ite ministers had nothing to do with the court.

The depleted cabinet met on November 13 despite the resignations to approve the draft framework for the tribunal and the UN Security Council is set to discuss the court tomorrow.

REUTERS SP KP2225