CAIRO - Former Hezbollah leader Sheikh Subhi al-Tofaily blamed Iran on Monday for the political standoff in Lebanon and urged opposition protestors to leave the streets, where they have been protesting against Premier Fouad Seniora's cabinet since December 1.

In an interview with pan-Arab newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat, al-Tofaily called the Hezbollah-led open-ended strike "a failure" and a "time bomb" casting strong doubts about the opposition forces' ability to push anti-Syrian Sunni Prime Minister Fouad Seniora to resign and to form a national unity government.

Al-Tofaily, who was Hezbollah chief from 1989 to 1991, said he feared the political turmoil in Lebanon could slip into a "civil war" between Sunnis and Shiites. Any clash with the Sunnis in the areas of protest might risk a full-blown armed confrontation.

He added: "Iran is pushing the Lebanese people, especially the Shiites, towards a disaster."

Indeed, Lebanon has recently witnessed several anti-government protests, a general strike and student riots which led to the killing of six people and the wounding of more than 200.

Al-Tofaily's criticism of Iranian policy and its influence on Lebanese opposition was quite clear, a view which he said sets him apart from Hezbollah.

The former leader's relationship with Hezbollah has been deteriorating, and "apparently fixing the relationship between me and my sons of the Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) is not in the interests of Iran."

He added: "I only ask Iran to reconsider their policies in Lebanon, because - unintentionally - they're serving the American interests (in the region) and they're pushing the Lebanese people, especially the Shiites, towards a disaster that's uncalled for." -DPA