Protests cause disarray in Lebanon

Street protests in Lebanon led by Hizbullah and anti-government groups have seen roads blocked with flaming tyres and at least one man killed, according to reports.

Shi'ite Muslims and Christian protesters have positioned themselves outside of the Lebanese government's main building in Beirut since December 1st.

This latest protest has taken the form of a strike and the setting up of roadblocks to Beirut's airport in an effort to paralyse Lebanon, which government figures say is tantamount to a coup.

Jamil Wahb, a protester in the Shi'ite suburbs, told Reuters: "This government only understands force and today is only a small lesson. We will stay here until they give in."

Security forces said that one man had been killed after a clash between the protesters and pro-government crowds in the town of Halba.

Sources had said before the protests started that activity was expected in Shi'ite areas, but Sunni areas were not predicted to take part and Christian regions were split down the middle.

Samir Geagea, a Christian leader, told al-Jazeera television that the action was "direct terrorism to paralyse the country".

Lebanon's embattled prime minister, Fouad Siniora, has refused to buckle to opposition demands, with Hizbullah seeking enough seats for a veto and the Lebanese government still recovering from assassinations and the Hizbullah conflict with Israel last year.