The strike escalates a campaign by the Hezbollah-led opposition to dislodge the Siniora government, install a new unity administration and hold early parliamentary elections. It comes two days before a major donors conference in Paris.

Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Thousands of Lebanese demonstrators have blocked major roads in and around the capital Beirut at the start of a general strike aimed at toppling the government.

Opposition activists set out early to burn tires on major highways north and south of the city; the road to Beirut international airport was blocked, so was the highway linking Beirut with the mountains and the road to Damascus, the Syrian capital, the television station of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah reported. The government has said they will keep the roads open, but so far, there has been little action taken.

A gunman fired on protesters in the ancient Christian town of Byblos, wounding three people, security sources said. Soldiers arrested the gunman and seized weapons from his house. Another gunfire was reported in Koura, during the demonstrations across Lebanon, and various scuffles broke out between protesters.

Since Dec. 1, The pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah and its allies, have staged street protests and sit-ins, camping outside Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's office, in a bid to topple his government.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Monday reiterated the group's demand that its wants a veto-wielding share of the prime minister's Cabinet — a request that Siniora has rejected.

The planned strike comes two days before Siniora and his economic team seek financial aid for Lebanon at an international donors' conference in Paris on Thursday. The opposition has said the grants and loans — which local analysts say could amount to 5 billion  US $ — would only increase the national debt and further weaken the economy.  Nasrallah has said the donors' conference aims at shoring up the Siniora government. During a rally Monday evening, he urged Hezbollah supporters to avoid trouble, saying: "We do not want to fight anyone. We do not want any bloodshed."

The strike has deepened divisions among Lebanese. The anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, made up of mostly Sunni Muslims, Druse and Christians, backs Siniora. The opposition is led by Hezbollah, and also includes some Druse and Christians.

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