Hezbollah crowd marks Ashura in Beirut suburb

BEIRUT, Jan 30 (Reuters) Tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslim Lebanese, chanting ''Death to America, death to Israel,'' marched in Hezbollah's Beirut stronghold today to mark the climax of the annual Ashura religious ceremony.

The event this year takes place as a political standoff has raised fears of sectarian strife between Lebanese Sunnis and Shi'ites.

A sea of black converged on Beirut's southern suburb to commemorate the killing in battle of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussein.

Men, women and children beat their chests in a sign of grief over Hussein's martyrdom. Some carried red, yellow and black flags with religious slogans. ''We will never be humiliated,'' the crowd also chanted.

The Hezbollah procession crowded streets heavily bombed by Israel during its war last year with Hezbollah guerrillas.

Hezbollah fighters killed in the war were remembered as the crowd railed against Israel and the United States.

It also condemned its political foes in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, is part of an opposition that wants more say in the Sunni-led government. It accuses ruling politicians of not backing it in last year's war.

The Lebanese political standoff turned violent last week during pro-and anti-government street clashes in which seven people were killed, heightening fears the crisis could turn into sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shi'ites.

The rival sides have blamed each other. Hezbollah has sworn it will not to be dragged into a civil war.

US President George W Bush accused Iran, Syria and Hezbollah yesterday of fomenting the latest violence in Lebanon in a bid to topple its government and said ''those responsible for creating chaos must be called to account''.

Ashura commemorates Hussein who was killed along with most of his family by Islamic ruler Yazid, who Shi'ites remember as an oppressor and murderer. Hussein's death at Kerbala in AD 680 is a defining moment in the history of Shi'ite Islam.

REUTERS SSC BD1547