BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's pro-Western cabinet will not give in to mass demonstrations called by the opposition for Friday in support of demands for a national unity government.

"The government will not give in. It rests on a comfortable majority in parliament and among the people and has the support of the Arab world and the international community, apart from Syria," Communications Minister Marwan Hamadeh told AFP said Thursday.

"Lebanon faces a choice of system -- democracy or religious autocracy," he said in allusion to Shiite militant group Hezbollah, one of the main opposition factions.

Hamadeh renewed the cabinet's criticism of pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud, whose term in office was extended until next year through a controversial Syrian-inspired constitutional amendment in 2004.

"Neither the machinations of an illegitimate president kept in office by Syria nor the demonstrations of Hezbollah are going to topple us," Hamadeh said

"Our decision has been taken, we will stick with it." -AFP