BEIRUT, Dec 7:Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed on Thursday that the Lebanese opposition will not “surrender” in its mass protests to bring down the Western-backed government.

“At the mass protest on Sunday we will show that those who are betting on our surrender are having an illusion. We will not go out of the streets before we achieve our objective to save Lebanon,” he said.

“We insist on our demands, for the formation of a real government of national unity... because it is the only means to prevent any foreign tutelage on Lebanon, so that we have Lebanese decision-making.” “We reject any tutelage, from any party, whether it is the enemy, brother or friend,” he said.

But Nasrallah said “the opportunity is still there and the doors of negotiation are still open, let us change the current government into a government of national unity headed by (Prime Minister Fuad) Siniora.” “But if you (ruling majority) remain stubborn... we will not accept any of you to head the next government... we will form an interim government that will hold early elections,” he said.

Nasrallah also said that the protest was “peaceful, civil and civilized,” and pledged that the death of a 20-year-old Shia opposition supporter after street fights on Sunday would not prompt the protesters to violence.

“When they killed Ahmed Mahmud, they wanted to push us to clashes... I tell them... we refuse civil war and discord,” he said.

Nasrallah's speech was broadcast live on two big screens to thousands of cheering opposition protesters who have been gathering since Friday outside the government's offices in central Beirut.

The influential leader of the Tehran- and Damascus-backed Hezbollah last addressed his followers on the eve of the mass protest that saw hundreds of thousands of flag-waving demonstrators take to the streets.

The opposition called on Wednesday on Lebanese to “participate en masse in a demonstration Sunday in central Beirut at 3 pm (1300 GMT) in the hope that this will be a historic day on which our voices are heard”.

“Our people do not give up, do not get tired,” Nasrallah said.

The Siniora government on Thursday reiterated its appeal for the opposition to return to talks. “However long it takes, the Lebanese will have to sit back down together,” Siniora said.

Nasrallah appeared to answer Siniora's appeal.

“We will stay on the streets and whoever wants dialogue knows that the doors of the leaders of the opposition are open,” he said.

“Lebanon cannot be ruled by one party that monopolizes” decision-making.

The opposition, made up mainly of Christian and Shia factions, no longer recognizes the government after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month.

The government is backed by an anti-Syrian parliament majority elected in 2005.

Nasrallah also asked followers not to fire into the air after the speech, as they did last week, “because it is a bad Lebanese habit... and the only place bullets should be directed is the chests of the Israeli enemy.” Nasrallah also blasted Arab and Western governments that have expressed their support for Lebanon's government.“You (Siniora government) have been counting on American backing. It will not bring you any benefit,” Nasrallah said.

“How can you count on Bush and its army... when they are sinking in the muds of the region, in Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon?” Nasrallah reiterated accusations against “some members” of the ruling majority who allegedly asked Washington to let Israel launch a war against Hezbollah in the summer to disarm his Shia militant group.

He also accused Siniora personally of having asked the Lebanese army to confiscate arms for Hezbollah during the war.

But a Lebanese government source denied such an accusation as “baseless.” Nasrallah also urged Arab mediators to stay neutral.

“I call on Arab countries expressing concern for Lebanon not to side with any party against the other -- they should extend their hand to all the Lebanese,” Nasrallah said.—AFP