"We are ready for a settlement internally," said Nasrallah, who has been spearheading the Syrian and Iranian-backed opposition against Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government.

Lebanon has been in deep political crisis since November when six pro-Syrian ministers, including five Shiites, resigned from the government, demanding the formation of a cabinet with greater representation in which the opposition demanded the right of veto.

Nasrallah was speaking amid tensions in the country ahead of Sunday's crucial by-elections to replace two MPs killed earlier this year in attacks blamed by the ruling majority on Syria. Damascus, a main backer of the Hezbollah-led Lebanese opposition, has denied the accusations.

Reiterating a call for a national unity government to help resolve Lebanon's political deadlock, Nasrallah said "Lebanon can only overcome its crisis with cooperation and unity."

"Lebanon cannot be divided, both practically and objectively. And we do not seek to control the government, or control the state," he said in a speech broadcast on huge screens before thousands of seated supporters in the eastern city of Baalbek late Friday.

"We are looking for a united and unified country which will protect Lebanon at a time ... the U.S. Administration is seeking to plant discords."

"Bush keeps on interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs … and no good intentions ever come out of the U.S. administration. The U.S. administration is seeking to plant discords," Nasrallah pointed out.

"American policy in Lebanon is pushing a Lebanese party to monopolize powers ... and what is the result? More crises," he stressed.

Nasrallah said "our campaign is peaceful, civilian and civilized."

"Weapons destroy the country and burn everybody. We have the power but using force inside the country is not in Lebanon's interest. These arms are for the defense of Lebanon, and not to destroy Lebanon."

"The arms of the resistance are not militia weapons" to be used against other Lebanese factions, said the leader of Hezbollah which fought a 34-day against the Israeli army in July and August 2006.

But observers see nothing new in Nasrallah speech. Contrary what he is claiming , the government of national unity that he wants will be far from being a unifying force , since Hezbollah is insisting on having veto power .Observers see Nasrallah as a tool in the hands of Syria and Iran and all he is doing is trying to take control of the country and invite Syria back to take over Lebanon. Ahmed Yasseen , an observer told Ya Libnan " Nasrallah is implementing the agendas of Syria and Iran in Lebanon. Once he adopts a Lebanese agenda , the March 14 alliance will be more than willing to share the government with Hezbollah without any concern about veto power . At this stage March 14 alliance see the veto as a Syrian and Iranian demand to destabilize Lebanon and use it as a bargaining chip to achieve their own goals ."

Picture: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ( R) , Syrian president Bashar el Assad ( L) and his father former president Hafez Assad ( C) . Many Lebanese consider Nasrallah as a tool in the hands of Syria and Iran and implementing their agenda in Lebanon to help them achieve their goals at Lebanon's expense.

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan