Rice reiterates U.S. support for Lebanese PM

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that the United States will continue supporting Lebanon's government led by Prime Minister Fuad Siniorato battle against opposition Hezbollah.

In her statement read at a State Department briefing, Rice accused Hezbollah of "seeking to protect their state-within-a-state."

"We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," Rice said of Lebanon's situation when Hezbollah gunmen Friday seized control of west Beirut after three days of deadly street battles with government troops.

The United States has long considered Hizbollah a terrorist group.