BEIRUT, Lebanon -An anti-Syrian Cabinet minister accused Hezbollah on Saturday of trying to scuttle a deal brokered by the Arab League to resolve Lebanon's deepening political crisis.

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh lashed out at the Shiite Muslim militant group as it threatened to gradually escalate its protests aimed at bringing down the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

Hezbollah and its allies have demanded a veto-wielding share in a new Cabinet. Their supporters have held sit-ins and street protests in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, since Dec. 1, in a bid to force Saniora to resign.

"Of course, there is a chance for an agreement if the parties move toward a compromise," Hamadeh told The Associated Press. "But apparently Hezbollah is setting conditions that are still far from what (Arab League chief) Amr Moussa has proposed to solve the crisis."

"Which means that the political deadlock is still there," Hamadeh said in English. "Only Moussa's proposal is acceptable."

After two days of marathon talks with rival Lebanese factions, Moussa announced Thursday that the government and opposition have agreed on a national unity Cabinet that would make major decisions only by consensus.

Moussa said the parties had agreed on a formula that would give the anti- Syrian allies less than two-thirds of the Cabinet and leave the opposition short of its demand for just over one-third. A neutral Cabinet minister would maintain the balance between the rival sides.

But the Arab League head said additional negotiations are needed for a deal, and he might return to Lebanon in the coming days.

The political crisis pits Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, against Saniora, who has the support of the U.S. and Europe. It was intensified in November when six Hezbollah-aligned ministers resigned.

A leading member of the pro-Syrian camp, Prime Minister Omar Karami, said that unless Moussa returns in two or three days to complete an agreement, his side will step up the pressure on the government.

A senior Hezbollah official said on Friday that his group wants more power in the Cabinet partly to avoid being disarmed by any future government.

Hezbollah's disarmament is a top demand of the U.S. and Israel. The U.N. cease-fire resolution that ended the Hezbollah-Israel war in August also calls for the group's eventual disarmament.

Hezbollah, backed by Syria and its allies in the Lebanese government, insists it will lay down its arms only when Lebanon has a strong enough government and army to defend its borders with Israel. -AP