Gunmen loyal to Hezbollah have shut a pro-government TV station and newspaper as battles continued between the group and Lebanese government supporters.

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The offices of Mr Hariri's al-Mustaqbal newspaper were reportedly set ablaze by opposition gunmen.

Fighting erupted over a government move to shut Hezbollah's telecoms network.

At least 10 people, mainly civilians, have been killed and more than 20 injured in several parts of the city since the clashes began.

'Cut the hand'

Correspondents say the bloodshed amounts to the worst internal strife since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called Tuesday's move to close the movement's telecommunications network a "declaration of war".

He vowed to "cut off the hand" behind the decision, in a speech on Thursday.

The United Nations Security Council is urging the rival parties to stop fighting immediately.

'Save Lebanon from hell'

Clashes continued into Friday morning as gunmen fought with rifles and grenade launchers in central and southern areas of the city.

Earlier, the Lebanese army command warned its unity was at risk if the ongoing political crisis and civil unrest in Beirut continued.

Mr Hariri has called on gunmen from both sides to withdraw from the streets "to save Lebanon from hell".

The Sunni leader also said Hezbollah should lift its "siege" of Beirut, and called for a meeting with Sheikh Nasrallah as soon as possible.

Mr Hariri also proposed a compromise on the government decision to close down Hezbollah's telecommunications network, calling it a "misunderstanding" and saying the army would have the final call.

On Tuesday, the government declared the group's fixed-line network covering its strongholds of south and east Lebanon, and southern Beirut, illegal, saying it was a threat to state security.

Sheikh Nasrallah had earlier said his group's military wing regarded the network as "the most important part" of its defensive measures.

(BBC)

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