The powerful Syrian-backed opposition party Hezbollah on Sunday contested the Western-backed government's decision to take charge of running Lebanon amid a presidential vacuum.
Lebanon is now "without an executive power," the Shiite group's number two Naim Qassem said, reiterating the opposition's stand that the government lost its legitimacy when all its Shiite cabinet members resigned in 2006. Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government "does not exist, cannot rule and cannot take over from the presidency," he said.
"Some people say the illegitimate government has taken over from the presidency, but this would only have been possible if the government was constitutional, legal and legitimate," Qassem said.
"Only then could it temporarily take over (presidential powers) ... but it is considered illegitimate," he said during a ceremony in Beirut's mainly Shiite southern suburbs.
Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud left office at the end of his term on Friday after parliament failed to elect his successor amid a long-running deadlock between the ruling majority and the opposition. The Siniora government said it effectively took charge of running Lebanon on Saturday in line with the constitution.
The army, which has steered clear of comment on political developments, has been maintaining order on the streets of Lebanon where many fear the crisis could spark civil unrest.