The clash came when opposition followers blocked a road linking the Lebanese capital's Shiite southern suburbs with the city's eastern Christian neighbourhoods, prompting the army to intervene.

Ali Ahmed Hamzah was killed by a stray bullet when the Lebanese army tried to disperse the protestors who blocked the road with burning tyres, a security source said.

An Amal movement source, however, said, 'Hamzah was killed by a sniper fire and not Lebanese army bullets.'

Red Cross volunteers at the scene said at least four people were wounded, among them a soldier who received slight injuries from the stone-throwing by the protestors.

Shortly after news came out that an Amal member was killed the protestors moved to another area and burned tyres and closed the main airport road leading to the capital.

The protestors, who are mainly Shiites, tried to enter the nearby Christian area of Ain Roumneh, crushing cars and setting others ablaze.

The area of Ain Roumneh, is a stronghold of the Christian Lebanese Forces, led by Samir Geagea. The first spark of the Lebanese civil war in 1975-1990 started in the same area of Ain Roumneh.

Earlier, around 50 of followers of the Shiite Amal movement, close allies of Hezbollah, burned tyres and blocked the Mar Mikhial road, which is one of the main roads that link the Hezbollah stronghold with the Christian areas of Hazmieh and Ain Roumaneh.

According to one protestor the aim of the protest was to denounce the continuos 'long hours of power cuts' in Beirut's southern Hezbollah stronghold.

'Tension still prevails in the area, but the army is trying to control the street,' a Lebanese police source said. The past two weeks saw similar protests.

Former interior minister Ahmed Fatfat, told Deustche Presse- Agentur, dpa, that 'this is a provoked protest...and this is to blow up efforts by the Arab League foreign ministers who are meeting today (Sunday) in Cairo to find a solution to the Lebanese crisis.'

The anti-Syrian majority expressed concerns that the opposition, which is led by Hezbollah, will use such protests as a pretext to try to bring down the Western-backed government of Fouad Seniora.

The ruling majority has accused the opposition, which is backed by Iran and Syria, of paralyzing the country and contributing to the further deterioration of the economic situation.

Lebanon is currently facing the most serious deadlock since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been void since former president Emile Lahoud stepped down on November 23, 2007.

The two conflicting political camps have agreed in principle to elect army commander Michel Suleiman to replace Lahoud but are still divided on how to amend the constitution to allow for his election, as well as on the shape and policies of the future government.

A long-awaited parliamentary session to elect president was on Sunday postponed for the 13th time to February 11.

The deadlock over the presidency deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears mount that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result more violence in the country.