Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief, has appeared in public in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, for the first time in more than a year.

Amid heavy security, he took part in an event for the Shia religious commemoration of Ashura in the city's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

"God protect Nasrallah," chanted the crowd, carrying portraits of the Hezbollah chief.

Nasrallah's last public appearance was at a massive "victory" rally in September 2006, in the wake of the war against Israel during which he went into hiding.

The Ashura ceremony takes place this year as Lebanon goes through its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Religious and political

Meanwhile, hundreds of men, women and children dressed in black amassed, punching their fists in the air and beating their chests in unison as they chanted "We serve you Hussein", as a sign of grief at the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Hezbollah supporters carrying red, yellow and black banners with the slogan "We will not be humiliated" marched in procession, blocking suburban roads, chanting "Death to America, Death to Israel".

Hezbollah, allied to Syria and Iran, wants an equal three-way division of cabinet seats - between themselves, the majority and the president - or veto power in a new government once army chief General Michel Suleiman is elected president.

Options unacceptable

Neither option is acceptable to the ruling majority of whom the US is the most powerful supporter.

The conflict has paralyzed government for more than a year and left Lebanon without a president since November.

Ashura is the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram when according to Islamic tradition, Hussein was killed along with most of his family in 680AD in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

Hussein's death is a defining moment in the history of the Shia interpretation of Islam.

PHOTO CAPTION

Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief