Suleiman praises "heroic" Hizbullah fighters

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has hailed the role that Hizbullah resistance fighters have played in the country's independence.

"Lebanon, and the heroic resistance men are present in each Lebanese party, our mountains and fields are full of them," local Elnashra website quoted President Michel Suleiman as saying on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

"All the Lebanese are attached to the culture of life, many of them throughout history revolted for independence," he added.

Hizbullah was integrated into the Lebanese national unity government in July. The group enjoys 14 seats in the Lebanese parliament.

The group, which foiled a 2006 ‘Israeli' invasion on the southern parts of the country, continues to gain growing global legitimacy with Britain having recently sought to re-launch its contacts with the group's political wing.

However, the US and some of its allies have blacklisted the movement.

On Monday, Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said that the movement had "convinced the West it is a popular, authentic and important movement that cannot be ignored."