Hundreds of Shiite supporters of Hezbollah blocked a road leading to Beirut airport on Thursday, protesting at what they said were insults against their leader during the massive rallies accompanying the funeral of slain Christian politician, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.
The protest came after hundreds of thousands of Lebanese flooded downtown Beirut to mourn the slain Christian politician and vent anger at Syria.
Troops were called in control the crowds, with columns of armoured personnel carriers on streets near the protest.
Prime Minister Fuad Saniora went on national television appealing to Hezbollah and its allies to resume a national dialogue broken off earlier in the month.
He renewed an appeal to the six ministers who quit their posts to return to the Cabinet and for rival political factions to resume a national dialogue that broke off earlier in the month precipitating the current deadlock.
The six ministers resigned just before the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel who was murdered on Tuesday and whose funeral took place on Thursday.
But the divisive issue of approving a UN-created international tribunal to investigate the assassinations of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and Gemayel could again undermine any reconciliation. But the government is pressing ahead with the court proposals, despite opposition from Hezbollah.
"The opportunity is here today to be united with the international tribunal, because this tribunal is our only way to find the truth about the crimes which target the Lebanese people.'' said Saniora in support of a tribunal investigation.
Pierre Gemayel, the scion of his powerful Maronite Christian family, was killed on Tuesday when two cars blocked his vehicle at an intersection as he left a church in a Beirut suburb and assassins shot him numerous times through a side window.
He was the sixth anti-Syrian figure killed in Lebanon in two years, including Rafik Hariri.
Syria has denied any role in the slaying of Gemayel and the other figures.
A government official said Saniora has called a Cabinet meeting for Saturday to approve the draft.
There was no immediate reaction from the opposition.
