BEIRUT, Lebanon - The leader of the militant Hezbollah group on Sunday warned Lebanese that whoever co-operates with the United States against his organization would "repent" their mistake.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah's comments came amid tension between his group and anti-Syrian politicians, some of whom are calling for disarming Hezbollah.

"Whoever dreams about getting rid of Hezbollah in any position is mistaken," Nasrallah said in a speech at a graduation ceremony for 1,300 Hezbollah members and supporters.

Nasrallah criticized U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, who have been accused by Hezbollah of interfering in Lebanese affairs. Welch told Lebanon's LBC Television Thursday that Hezbollah should not be in the government and that the United States does not consider it a militia but a terrorist organization.

In reference to Lebanese who might co-operate with Americans, the black-turbaned cleric said: "Whoever wants to work to get rid of Hezbollah will repent it and will be mistaken."

The Lebanese government says Hezbollah is a resistance movement.

UN Security Council Resolution 1559, issued in 2004, calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon - a reference to Hezbollah and Palestinian guerrilla factions.

Hezbollah says its weapons are a deterrence against future attacks by Israel, which twice invaded Lebanon in 1978 and 1982. Since the Israeli withdrawal in 2000, Hezbollah has continued to fight Israel over a disputed patch of land on the border where Syria, Lebanon and Israel meet.

Some anti-Syrian politicians have said Hezbollah should disarm now since Israel has withdrawn from Lebanese territory.

"At the moment we feel that someone is carrying out this (American) dictation, we will not be shy and we will speak openly," Nasrallah said. "Whoever colludes in such an American conspiracy is a Zionist, an Israeli and a Sharonist," he said in reference to Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. (AP)