Supporters of pro-Iranian Hezbollah blocked main roads in the Lebanese capital with blazing tyres, old cars and heaps of earth, paralysing the city and cutting routes to its sea and airports
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The clashes took place a day after the government accused Hezbollah of violating the country’s sovereignty by operating its own telecommunications network and installing spy cameras at Beirut airport.

Air traffic was suspended on Wednesday because of a strike by staff taking part in labour union action to demand more pay.

The strike was backed by the Hezbollah-led opposition, whose struggle with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s anti-Syrian cabinet has already led to bouts of lethal street violence.

Security sources said pro-government supporters exchanged assault rifle and grenade fire with Hezbollah sympathisers in the Beirut neighbourhoods of Noueiri, Ras al Nabae and Wata al-Musaitbeh.

It was not clear if there were casualties. Security source said the army had detained two men armed with M-16 rifles in Beirut.