Beirut, Nov. 12 (AP): Lebanon's government was thrown into deep crisis as Prime Minister Fuad Saniora rejected the resignation of Cabinet ministers from Hezbollah and its allied Amal party, who quit after rival politicians failed to agree on a national unity government.

The premier's rejection meant the five Shia Muslim ministers were still legally part of the government late yesterday, and the 24-member Cabinet of Western-backed Saniora remained in office.

But the resignations threw the country's political landscape into chaos hours after rival politicians failed to agree on Hezbollah's demand to form a government of national unity, in which the guerrilla group would have veto power.

They removed considerable political backing from Shia Muslims, the country's main sect, and made it difficult for Saniora to govern. More than eight Cabinet ministers would, however ,need to resign before the government would be dissolved.

Hezbollah and Amal said their ministers resigned because all-party talks on forming the national unity Cabinet fell through and government was trying to impose conditions on the negotiations, according to the guerrilla group's Al-Manar television.

The unfolding drama threw the government into a deadlock, with the ministers technically remaining part of the Cabinet but not participating in meetings.

Hezbollah's fierce resistance to Israel during their 34-day war last summer has gained the group increasing political clout in a country deeply split along religious and political lines, and the thousands-strong guerrilla is often described as "a state within the state."