He told them to get ready to take to the streets to demand a national unity government or early parliamentary elections but did not say when Hezbollah, in conjunction with other opposition forces, would call for the protests.

"We need to be prepared," Nasrallah told hundreds of Hezbollah activists who have been tasked with organizing the protests. The meeting was on Saturday but broadcast by Hezbollah's Al Manar television on Sunday.

Opposition ministers from Shi'ite Muslim groups Hezbollah and Amal quit the government on November 11 after the collapse of all-party talks over their demands for veto power in government, throwing Lebanon into political crisis.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah and other opposition forces could protest for days or weeks "until we impose, via our peaceful, civilized and democratic means, the downfall ... of the illegitimate, unconstitutional government -- the government of (U.S. ambassador Jeffrey) Feltman, not the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora."

The cleric, whose group is backed by Syria and Iran, repeatedly said Hezbollah would not allow protests to turn violent. Sectarian strife was a red line, he said.

"We will not allow any clash, even with the other street", Nasrallah said, in reference to pledges from leaders of the ruling majority to match opposition rallies with their own.

"We form a national unity government -in which the principal political forces in the country will have a real participation, not superficial ( this in reference to the one third + 1 share they insisted on during the talks but was rejected by the parliament majority). This is one option," Nasrallah said.

"The other option is early parliamentary elections."

"U.S. Controlled"

Nasrallah repeatedly said the government was controlled by the United States, which lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Nasrallah has accused Washington of encouraging Israel during its war with Hezbollah in July and August.

He described U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a "blood sucker" and said the anti-Syrian ruling majority had banked on Israel destroying Hezbollah during the conflict.

"Frankly, they felt a bitter defeat because of what happened in the last war which Israel launched on Lebanon and upon which they were betting to destroy the resistance," he said.

The ruling majority claims that the pro-Syrian opposition withdrew from government to try to block progress towards the establishment of an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A U.N. inquiry into the killing has implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials. Damascus has denied involvement.

Nasrallah reiterated that the resignation of the Shi'ite ministers had nothing to do with the court, but insisted that they wanted changes in the draft details. This was understood by the parliament majority as an effort to block the tribunal in support of Syria, which has objected to the tribunal and solicited Russia's help in creating obstacles at the UN for passing at the security council.

The depleted cabinet met on November 13 despite the resignations to approve the draft framework for the tribunal and the U.N. Security Council is set to discuss the court on Monday.

Awaiting instructions from Iran & Syria

Many local observers told Ya Libnan that Nasrallah is awaiting instructions from both Iran and Syria for the timing of the protests, to coincide with the discussions regarding Iranian nuclear program. Iran is trying to use Hezbollah to influence the talks on the nuclear program.

While Nasrallah complains about American influence in government, he is proud of the Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon. Most observers reported that America's influence in Government is imaginary while Iranian and Syrian influence is for real. Iran funds, trains and supports Hezbollah.

After the war ended millions of dollars in cash were sent by Iran in wooden boxes and distributed to Hezbollah supporters. These funds according to the central bank governor did not come thru the Lebanese banking system.

The Lebanese people are tired of having their country used as a stage for proxy wars between the regional powers and USA. They want their country to be a normal nation and treated accordingly. They view Hezbollah as a destabilizing force in Lebanon whose agenda does not involve Lebanon as a nation but as a staging ground to achieve the objectives of Iran and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Lebanese have left the country since the war erupted. Most of those that fled are young men, who don’t see a future for themselves in the country as long as an organization such as Hezbollah continues to cause havoc to the Lebanese economy and stability.

Sources: Reuters