BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese Higher Shiite Council welcomed Arab efforts to resolve the internal Lebanon crisis and repeated its call for the formation of a national unity government.

The council, in a statement issued after its monthly meeting, reiterated its condemnation of the current "illegal and unconstitutional" government.

"The formation of a national unity government is aimed at lifting the country out of the current divisions which threaten its unity and coexistence as well as the Lebanese people's interests," the statement said.

The council condemned the assassination of Future Movement MP Walid Eido earlier this month. "Those who have carried out such a terrorist act wanted to assassinate Lebanon and sow strife among its people," it said.

The council also condemned ongoing fighting between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam militants at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli, calling for providing the "military institution" with the necessary support.

The council also said it "rejects irresponsible calls for deploying international peacekeeping forces along the Lebanese-Syrian border. Such calls harm Lebanese sovereignty and aim to break our relationship with brotherly Syria."