BEIRUT, Dec 9: Beirut on Saturday braced for escalating opposition protests led by Hezbollah as Western leaders affirmed their support for Lebanon's beleaguered government.

The political deadlock appeared no closer to resolution after Prime Minister Fuad Siniora vowed an attempted ‘coup’ by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was bound to fail and urged a return to talks between Lebanon’s feuding pro- and anti-Syrian camps.

Nasrallah's movement has spearheaded opposition protests and called a new mass rally for Sunday after thousands have camped out on the government's doorstep for nine days.

The opposition, which no longer recognises the rump cabinet after six pro-Damascus ministers resigned last month, has vowed to ramp up its protest until the government gives in to demands to make way for a national unity administration. “Monday will be a new day in Lebanon,” the pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted an opposition organiser as saying.—AFP