Traffic came to a standstill as Beirut's Hamra Street was sealed off on Friday, prompting security fears after a series of deadly bombings in and around Beirut and the continuing standoff with Fatah al-Islam militants in the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared.

But anxious bystanders relaxed when they saw the film crew. The shopping district was being used as a location to shoot a television commercial honoring the army.

"We wanted to honor our army and show that we love them," Nada Abi Saleh of advertising agency Leo Burnett told Agence France Presse.

"This is our way of paying our respects to all of the soldiers who have been killed in the battles against Fatah al-Islam. It is a simple initiative from all the Lebanese to tell the soldiers that we love them and we support them."

Many shoppers in Hamra Street gladly volunteered to act as extras in the commercial.

"For the Lebanese army we are prepared to do anything," Mohammed Itani said as he prepared to be directed by Tawfiq Trabulsi, the owner and executive producer of Independent Productions.

"For more than 30 years the army was totally absent. This is the first time we feel that the army is protecting us and the first time all Lebanese, Muslims and Christians, are united behind their military," Abi Saleh added.

The 45-second TV spot to be broadcast on most Lebanese television stations starting next week will show a real soldier walking down Hamra Street and being saluted by pedestrians.

"We joined forces with a leading advertising company and production house to film the commercial for free. The army even broke its own rules by allowing a real soldier to act in it," Abi Saleh said.

"The military wanted to give credibility to the commercial, which was why they agreed to allow a soldier to appear."

The pro-army advertising campaign is not restricted to television spots. Starting next week there will also be a billboard blitz across the country.

"Some 600 billboards will carry posters that are being printed and displayed for free to honor the army," Abi Saleh said. "The whole campaign will carry a simple slogan -- The Nation in Our Hearts."

Top picture: Beirut, Hamra street

Lebanese civilians salute an army soldier during the shooting of a TV commercial in Beirut's Hamra street. Troops on the streets of the troubled Lebanese capital are not an unusual sight. But it is not often that civilians make a point of saluting them. The victory of the army in north Lebanon agaisnt the terrorists of Fatah al Islam made the Lebanese proud . "For the Lebanese army we are prepared to do anything," Mohammed Itani said .

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan