BEIRUT: As protests in Lebanon against institutional corruption and taxes entered their ninth day on Friday, both Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), founded by President Michel Aoun, increased their presence on the streets.

Supporters of the FPM gathered outside the Palace of Justice in defense of Aoun, and attempted to convince protesters that they shared the same goals, holding banners with slogans including 鈥淵our demands are the same as the FPM鈥檚,鈥� 鈥淔ighting corruption is done through the judiciary,鈥� 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you protest the presence of 1.5 million Syrian refugees?鈥� and 鈥淧resident Aoun is not corrupt. Focus on others.鈥�

Hezbollah鈥檚 Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah claimed that the protests were being orchestrated by 鈥渟pecific, known political parties, powers, communities and institutions.鈥�

Hezbollah supporters went to Riad Al-Solh Square 鈥� the center of the uprising in Beirut 鈥� where they threatened and intimidated protesters in an attempt to quash any criticism of Nasrallah, and led chants calling the head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, a 鈥渢errorist.鈥� They arrived overnight on Thursday, dressed in black shirts, and erected a tent in the square.

Arab News spoke to several protesters who called Nasrallah鈥檚 supporters 鈥渢hugs.鈥� One of them asked: 鈥淲hat brought Hezbollah here? This is not its place.鈥�

Protesters then began chanting 鈥淎ll of them means all of them鈥� 鈥� a chant signifying their intention to hold everyone in power accountable for Lebanon鈥檚 problems. One protester told Arab News, 鈥淚nstead of standing by the people, Hezbollah is standing against them. It is a shame.鈥� Another addressed Nasrallah directly, saying: 鈥淲e love you. Why do you make us hate you and your supporters?鈥�

One also said, 鈥淲ithout the people, neither Nasrallah nor anyone else would be here. This attack is unacceptable.鈥� Another stressed: 鈥淭he revolution will continue. They want it to fail, but this is not going to happen.鈥�

Riot police intervened and clashed with Hezbollah鈥檚 supporters. Stones were thrown and batons were used. Several police were injured.

Hezbollah鈥檚 supporters eventually took control of the square, as one protester announced through a loudspeaker: 鈥淲hoever wants to cause trouble is not welcome among us. This square is open to everyone, but with respect.鈥�

In a televised speech, Nasrallah said that the uprising may have started as a 鈥渟pontaneous鈥� movement, but that was no longer the case.

鈥淚t is now being managed, coordinated and funded,鈥� he claimed. 鈥淭he movement has entered the scope of regional political conflicts and is no longer limited to popular protests. This pushes us to question it. We fear that someone is targeting the country in order to lead us to civil war and lure the resistance. We have information and doubts.鈥�

He called on the leadership of the movement to 鈥渞eassure demonstrators and reassure us as well. Identify your representatives because there is a hidden leadership and the people have the right to know who they are following.鈥�

Nasrallah asked his supporters to leave the areas of the protests because 鈥渨e have no interests there,鈥� and told protesters, 鈥淩ejecting dialogue means that there is a major political targeting of all elements of power in the country.鈥�

Convoys supporting Nasrallah were organized in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in Tyre. Security forces blocked all roads leading to Beirut to prevent them from reaching the city center.

Hani Fayyad, a member of the revolution鈥檚 coordination committee, responded to Nasrallah, saying, 鈥淭he movement鈥檚 representatives will meet tonight and come up with a unified decision.鈥�