Cairo  - Washington is ready to help the Lebanese Army respond more effectively to Hezbollah's armed supporters, US President George W Bush said in an interview with BBC Arabic television rebroadcast Tuesday.

Bush said Hezbollah was acting against its own people and accused the Shiite group of destabilizing Lebanon with the backing of Iran.

Clashes between Hezbollah supporters and loyalists of the governing coalition in Beirut and other cities erupted after the government acted to remove Hezbollah's communications network.

"I don't see how how you can have a society with Hezbollah armed up the way they are," Bush told the London-based BBC Arabic channel.

Hezbollah has acted against the Lebanese people, not against a foreign country, the US president said.

This "should send a signal to everybody that they are a destabilizing force," Bush noted.

The Lebanese Army, many believe, has emerged as a key player and an accepted arbitrator between Lebanon's powers.

General Michel Suleiman, the army commander, is generally accepted by all powers as the only presidential candidate.

Bush made his remarks ahead of his Middle East tour, which will begin on Wednesday.

Bush said the US was helping the Lebanese Army improve its effectiveness to be able to act against Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora should be helped in strengthening its capacity "to respond with a military that is effective," Bush said.

The US president reiterated his accusations that Iran was the source of instability in the Middle East saying Hezbollah would be powerless without Iranian support. (dpa)