Hezbollah's Nasrallah accuses Lebanese Forces of trying to stoke civil war

Iran-backed militia chief claims group has 100,000 fighters, in first comments since Tayouneh clashes killed seven on Thursday

People clean up a street a day after clashes and gunfire erupted in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

Boys walk past soldiers in Beirut. Six people died during clashes in the Lebanese capital on Thursday. Reuters

A woman talks on the phone as she stands on her damaged balcony in the district of Ain Al Remaneh, where some of the worst clashes took place. AFP

Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah attend a funeral in Beirut's southern suburbs. The group accused the Christian Lebanese Forces party of carrying out the Beirut attacks. Reuters

People stand on the balcony on a bullet-riddled building. Reuters

Bullet holes on a window of an apartment building. EPA

Supporters of Hezbollah chant slogans during a funeral procession in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. AP Photo

Lebanese soldiers patrol the streets a day after the deadly clashes. Reuters

People walk on glass from broken windows littering a street after the violence. AP

A soldier gestures as he stands in a military vehicle. AP

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused his Christian enemies, the Lebanese Forces, of trying to stoke a new civil war in the country.

The accusation was in his first public comments since seven people were killed in armed clashes in Beirut last week.

“The real programme of the Lebanese Forces is civil war that will lead to demographic change,” Mr Nasrallah said.

He said that Thursday's violence represented a “dangerous and critical new stage” for the country.

In a fiery speech lasting about two hours, he took aim at Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, claiming “since he got out of prison, he has been searching for enemies".

Mr Nasrallah was referring to the 11 years Mr Geagea served in jail for crimes committed during the civil war.

Mr Nasrallah claimed his group had 100,000 armed fighters and warned Mr Geagea: “Don't miscalculate. Sit quietly and get your act together.”

He insisted that the Iran-backed group had “never been stronger".

Seven people, all Shiite, were killed in armed clashes on Thursday, after unknown gunmen opened fire on a demonstration being held by Hezbollah and Amal supporters against Tarek Bitar, the judge leading an investigation into the Beirut port blast.

The clashes were the worst violence seen on the streets of Beirut in more than a decade.

Hezbollah and Amal, the country's two most powerful Shiite groups, accused fighters from the Lebanese Forces of opening fire on their supporters, which Mr Nasrallah reinforced in his speech.

The Lebanese Forces have denied the accusations.

Mr Nasrallah repeatedly tried to portray his party as a friend of the country's Christian community.

“We do not represent any threat or danger to you. Rather, the danger to you is Lebanese Forces and its leader,” he said.

He called for a quick investigation into Thursday's violence, adding that “those responsible should be held to account.”

Mr Nasrallah used his last televised speech to publicly rebuke Mr Bitar, prompting the Hezbollah-backed march on Thursday.

Mr Bitar has faced condemnation from much of Lebanon's political class, including Hezbollah, as he called in several high-profile politicians for questioning over the summer.

The criticism appeared to reach new levels when he issued an arrest warrant for Ali Khalil, a former finance minister, after he failed to appear for questioning.