Beirut, Lebanon - A former Lebanese minister affiliated to the Hezbollah movement which is leading calls for Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to resign, says the only way bring stability is a government of national unity containing both pro- and anti-Syrian parties.

"If Lebanon's ruling class were to satisfy the demands of the population and were to understand it no longer has a popular nor a constitutional mandate, it would form a government of national unity that would allow Lebanon to emerge from the current political crisis," Muhammad Fanish said in a interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

Just over a fortnight ago Fanish quit as energy and water resources minister - an exit he made with five other Hezbollah affiliated cabinet members.

On Friday, tens of thousands of people turned out in Beirut to protest against Siniora's government, part of a "mass action" campaign launched by Hezbollah which Fanish said would continue "until the opposition's demands for the creation of a government of national unity are met."

Besides the street demonstrations, Hezbollah has not specified what other form "mass action" may take. Fanish said the Siniora government and its main supporters - the so-called "14 March" anti-Syrian forces that formed in the wake of the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri - would be responsible "for what could happen during the protests at a social, economic and security level".

Fanish also denied reports of a behind-the-scenes meeting between the government and the opposition forces to begin negotiations on resolving the current impasse.

"The opposition rejects any normalisation that does not entail the formation of a government of nationaly unity reflecting the views and the trust of the people," he told AKI.

Asked if Siniora's demise could mean an end to the Western support Lebanon has received, Fanish said such aid "does not serve the interests of Lebanon, but only of the political class."

"Washington wants to divides Lebanon and the Lebanese," he said accusing the United States of supporting Israel's military offensive Hezbollah in July-August.

"The war against Lebanon was decided by the Americans and carried out by the Israeli army," he said.

Fanish also described as a "diversionary tactic", the anti-Syrian forces' accusation that Hezbollah and the pro-Syrian parties are hampering attempts to have suspects arrested in connection with Hariri's killing - including several fomer top secuirty officials - tried before an international tribunal.

"Only once a government of national unity is created can all these questions such as the international tribunal, and the presidency be resolved on the basis of consensus and the real interests of the country," he said also referring to the anti-Syrian demands that Lebanon's pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud resign. -AKI