Lebanese soldiers guard Beirut street where protesters set fire to tires, 07 May 2008

Protesters supporting the Hezbollah-led opposition in Lebanon have blocked streets in Beirut with burning tires to enforce an anti-government labor strike.

A major route leading to Beirut's international airport was among the roads blocked Wednesday.

Security forces have been deployed to prevent clashes between supporters of the opposition and Lebanon's Western-backed government.  The strike was called to demand pay raises.

Lebanon is currently experiencing a political crisis.  Disputes between the Western-backed majority party and the pro-Syrian opposition over the composition of a new government have led to a political stalemate.

On Tuesday, Lebanon's government accused Hezbollah of violating the state's sovereignty and spying on its top leaders.

Lebanon's Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said the government has demanded Hezbollah dismantle its communications network, which the Shi'ite militant group says is needed to protect the group and counter Israeli surveillance.

Aridi also said the government is firing the pro-Hezbollah army general responsible for security at Beirut Airport, regarding alleged Hezbollah spy cameras monitoring a runway used by government leaders.

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, a key member of the governing coalition, accused Hezbollah of using the information to plan kidnappings or assassinations.  Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem denounced the charges, saying the camera is perfectly legitimate.

Lebanon's parliament is scheduled to vote May 13 for the country's new president.

It will be the 19th time the parliament will try to vote for a successor to former pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose term expired in November.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.