New Delhi, April 9 -- Lebanon's government on Thursday ordered security personnel to limit the possession of arms in Beirut solely to national agencies, following a massive wave of Israeli bombardment throughout the nation, including strikes within the city centre.

"The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforcing the full imposition of state authority over Beirut Governorate and to monopolise weapons in the hands of legitimate authorities alone," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said at the end of a cabinet meeting.

Paul Morcos, Lebanon's Information Minister, said that the directive sparked protests from the two cabinet members representing Hezbollah.

The Lebanese leadership officially prohibited Hezbollah's comb...