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Supporters of Lebanon's Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been involved in fierce armed clashes in the streets of Beirut.
Television reports showed gunmen firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades in Corniche al-Mazraa and Ras al-Nabaa.
The fighting began after the leader of Hezbollah described the government's move to close its telecommunications network as a "declaration of war".
Hassan Nasrallah vowed to "cut off the hand" that attempted to dismantle it.
Earlier, the Lebanese army command warned its unity was at risk if the ongoing political crisis and civil unrest in Beirut continued.
In recent years, it has been seen as one of Lebanon's most neutral institutions, but correspondents say clashes between rival factions could draw it into the conflict.
'Siege'
For most of Thursday there was a tense stand-off in the sensitive areas of central and south Beirut, where Sunni and Shia communities overlap and where gun battles had broken out the previous day.
But shortly after the televised speech by Sheikh Nasrallah ended, the sound of heavy gunfire and the explosions of rocket-propelled grenades could be heard echoing through the centre of the city. It was still going on after nightfall.
There have so far been no reports of casualties.
Reports say Hezbollah fighters and their allies are trying to take over buildings in which there are offices of the Sunni Future movement led by Saad Hariri, one of the mainstays of the Western-backed government.
Later, Mr Hariri called on Hezbollah's leader to lift the "siege" of Beirut and work with him to end the fighting in the capital.
Beirut has been largely paralysed by roadblocks set up over the past two days by opposition supporters, led by Hezbollah, during protests against the government, which started as a strike over pay.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has urged both sides "to cease immediately these riots and to re-open all roads in the country".
The US government also called on Hezbollah and the opposition to "start playing a constructive role and stop their disruptive activities".
"Hezbollah needs to make a choice - be a terrorist organisation or be a political party, but quit trying to be both," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
Lebanon is currently witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war and has been without a head of state for five months because of the internal power struggle.
(BBC)
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