Beirut  - A cautious calm prevailed Thursday across the Lebanese capital Beirut, a day after a labour union protest sparked armed clashes across the city.

The capital's streets were still partially deserted after opposition followers cut off major roads leading to the capital and isolated the city from Beirut international airport.

Officials at Beirut airport told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that all flights by Lebanese carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) were cancelled and that the airport was now officially closed.

Some shops and businesses were opening their doors in parts of the city, but schools remained closed.

Sporadic gunfire was heard across the capital overnight and in the early morning hours as troops and police officers intensified their security measures inside the capital and near governmental buildings.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give a press conference later Thursday to comment on the moves of his militant group.

According to opposition sources, Nasrallah plans to outline his radical Shiite group's actions for the coming days.

On Wednesday, followers of the opposition and members loyal to the Western-backed government were involved in clashes using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

Hospital sources said at least 10 people were wounded, including a nun.

By the afternoon, the streets were full of soldiers, many in riot gear, especially near the Information Ministry in the centre of the city and the nearby Central Bank.

Opposition sources told dpa that the road leading to the airport could stay closed for a long time.

Other unconfirmed reports indicated Hezbollah was planning to set up tents near Beirut airport, like they did in downtown Beirut on December 1, 2006, when they blocked the road near the governmental palace. The camp is still in downtown Beirut.

Opposition sources close to Hezbollah told dpa that House Speaker Nabih Berri and officials in Hezbollah told the government the airport road would be reopened when the government reinstated the pro-Hezbollah airport security chief, Wafiq Choukair.

He was dismissed by a government decision on Tuesday after being accused of helping Hezbollah install cameras to monitor planes landing at the international airport.

The strike was called Wednesday by the country's main labour union to force the government to raise the monthly minimum wage which has been unchanged since 1996.

Although the cabinet on Tuesday agreed to a 130-dollar increase a month to 330 dollars, the GCTL said it was nowhere near enough.

The union is demanding that the minimum wage be increased to 600 dollars, but the government has balked at such a raise, and Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned it could lead to rampant inflation.

The closure of roads prompted the grand mufti of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, to described Hezbollah's actions as an "invasion of Beirut." (dpa)