BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon’s Higher Shia Council has urged participants in the national dialogue to adopt a "defensive strategy" against "the Zionist enemy."

To this end, it said "resistance weapons are noble national weapons" to which Lebanon should cling as the sole means of liberating occupied land, releasing detainees and guarding against future Israeli attack.

The council reiterated its support for the national dialogue as "the best means to resolve the Lebanese people's problems." The statement urged members of the government to "strengthen their unity, continue dialogue sessions and end political clashes."

It also called for the repair of Lebanese-Syrian relations.

Meanwhile, the council's vice president Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan said only efforts deployed by "resistant forces, not diplomatic bodies, could get back the violated rights."

Qabalan said he was working to promote Islamic unity in cooperation with Grand Mufti Mohammad Rashid Qabbani as well as all religious authorities.

With reference to his meeting last week with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Qabalan said the objective was to affirm Shiites' Arab identity and "loyalty" to their countries.

Qabalan further said he asked Mubarak to encourage Libya to cooperate with efforts to determine the fate of Ayatullah Musa As-Sadr, who disappeared during a visit to the North African country in 1978.