The funeral of an anti-government protester is being held in Lebanon's capital, Beirut.

Ahmed Mahmoud, a Shia, was killed by an unknown gunman in a Sunni district after leaving an opposition protest.

Anti-government protests called by Islamist movement Hezbollah are now in their fifth day, with police reporting street clashes on the last two nights.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has condemned the killing and called for dialogue with opposition leaders.

'Martyr'

Police were expecting large crowds for the funeral of Mr Mahmoud, 21, the first person killed since Hezbollah called for the protests.

He was shot dead in street clashes on Sunday in the Beirut district of Qasqas.

His coffin was carried through the streets on Monday to cries of "martyr".

He is to buried in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold that was heavily damaged in Israel's bombardment in July and August.

There were more clashes Monday night in another Sunni district, injuring two people, police said.

Mr Siniora said on Tuesday that the only solution to Lebanon's political impasse was dialogue.

"Otherwise our country will be a space for conflict for different factions and allies."

Observers say the clashes could provoke widespread inter-communal strife in a country that was brought to its knees by civil war in the 1970s and 1980s.

The commander of Lebanon's army has warned the government that the daily protests and clashes risk spiraling into sectarian strife, Associated Press news agency said.

Protest camp

Soldiers and armored vehicles have taken up positions around the prime minister's office and other key government buildings in central Beirut.

Large anti-government protests have been held outside Mr Siniora's office every day since Friday with some demonstrators camping overnight.

The demonstrations have so far been peaceful, with the clashes taking place away from the protest site.

The anti-government protesters accuse Mr Siniora and his government of being too pro-Western and anti-Syrian, and of failing the Lebanese people.

The opposition, led by the Shia Muslim militant and political movement Hezbollah with some prominent Christian allies, has been demanding an effective veto power in the government.

Hezbollah has said the protests will continue until the government steps down.

The current crisis was sparked last month when five Shia ministers and one Christian minister quit the government.

The political tension was increased two weeks later with the assassination of a leading anti-Syrian minister, Pierre Gemayel.

The government came to office last year in the first election after the withdrawal of Syrian troops, originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war.

Syria was forced to withdraw its forces after massive protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Photo Caption

Funeral of Ahmed Mahmoud