Hezbollah-led protest paralyzes Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A protest strike led by Hezbollah all but shut down Lebanon Tuesday as the political arm of the militia tried to bring down the government with new elections.

In Beirut, flights were canceled after protesters blocked roads to the airport with piles of burning tires, the BBC reported. Major streets throughout the city were blocked the same way and heavy clouds of thick black smoke hung over the city.

Since the beginning of December, Hezbollah has been trying to force western-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to call new elections in a bid to get Hezbollah presence into the Cabinet with veto power.

Hezbollah is backed by Syria and Iran, while Siniora's coalition government has the support of the United States, France and Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with the al-Jazeera television leader, Christian leader and Siniora coalition partner Samir Geagea denounced the protest.

"What is happening is the furthest thing from democratic means," Geagea said.