Lebanese police have found the bodies of a Sunni man and a boy in hills south-east of Beirut, three days after they went missing, feared kidnapped.

Ziyad Ghandour, 12, was the son of a member of the pro-government Progressive Socialist Party. Ziyad Qabalan, 25, also belonged to the PSP.

Opposition parties immediately denied involvement in their disappearance.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said it was a "terrorist act" aimed at stirring sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

Tensions have been running high since December, when the pro-Syrian opposition, led by the Shia group Hezbollah, began a campaign to oust Mr Siniora's pro-Western government.

In January, clashes broke out between the rival camps in Beirut and nine people were killed.

Appeal for calm

The two disappeared on Monday after leaving their homes in Wata Musaitbi district of West Beirut.

Their car was then found in a Shia neighborhood of the capital.

The Lebanese security forces launched a nationwide manhunt in response.

Local media immediately speculated the two had been kidnapped by a Shia clan close to the opposition which had vowed to avenge the death of a relative shot dead during January's riots.

The Shamas clan and the two main Shia groups, Hezbollah and Amal, denied any involvement and urged their release.

Hopes of finding the two were dashed on Thursday, however, when police said they received a phone call telling them the two bodies had been left in a field near the coastal village of Jadra.

A spokesman said it was unclear how they had been killed, but initial reports suggested they were dead at least 48 hours ago.

Progressive Socialist Party leader, Druze chief Walid Jumblatt, joined politicians from both sides in appealing for calm.

"Let us allow the judiciary and investigation to run their course so that we don't fall into the trap of political rumors," he told Future TV.

"Let us remove politics from this incident."

Photo caption

Friends Ziyad Ghandour, 12, hold his picture