Legislator Ayoub Hemayed, a senior member of Amal, a major Hezbollah ally, urged supporters to exercise restraint.

"We will not be dragged into sedition. ... We are called upon to remain one hand and united."

The calls to ease sectarian tension came amid warnings from the army commander that the trouble could get out of control despite the deployment of thousands of soldiers.

"The absence of political solutions, along with the recurring security incidents, particularly those with a sectarian tinge, drain the army's resources and weaken its neutrality," Suleiman was quoted by several newspapers as saying.

"This weakness will make the army unable to control the situation in all areas of Lebanon," he said.

The remarks were exceptional in that army officers are not allowed to make political statements. A senior military official declined to confirm or deny the comments. The army issued no statement rebutting them.

Troops and armored cars have taken up positions in various parts of Beirut, particularly around Saniora's office complex. Soldiers were also on duty in the Sunni and mixed neighborhoods where nightly riots with sticks, bottles and sometimes gunfire have occurred.

The sectarian tension in the Cabinet began to escalate last month when six pro-Hezbollah ministers resigned after Saniora and the anti-Syrian majority in parliament rejected the group's demand for a new national unity government that would effectively give it and its allies veto power.

Hezbollah says it will continue its protest campaign until Saniora agrees to step down. The prime minister - emboldened by Arab and US support - has vowed to stay in office.

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