BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt warned Sunday against a break out of sectarian strife in Lebanon in light of domestic and regional events, particularly those in Syria.

“What is happening in Lebanon and around us and especially in Syria might make the issue of the international tribunal but a minor detail, if sectarian strife broke out and [hopefully] it won’t. But we should bear responsibility for every word we say,” Jumblatt said in a news conference in Mukhtara in the Chouf Mountains on the birthday of his father Kamal Jumblatt.

He also criticized the row between former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah over the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

“The debate over the international tribunal and the issue of false witnesses between Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is unnecessary,” he said.

“At the same time, we understand Hezbollah's reservations.”

Nasrallah has accused Future Movement of inciting sectarian strife by using provocative language against the resistance.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced last week that he had funded the international court probing the 2005 assassination of former statesman Rafik Hariri, despite opposition from the majority represented in Hezbollah and its allies.

The PSP leader also touched upon the speech given by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Asir in Sidon Friday, in which Assir attacked the Shiite community, raising fear of sectarian clashes within the city’s multi-religious communities.

All officials should harshly condemn such statements to preserve stability, Jumblatt said.

“The matter could wound the Lebanese community and relations between Muslims. There must be a bigger reaction over what happened and [we must] consequently stand in solidarity to face such provocative words,” he added.

Jumblatt, who identifies himself as a centrist politician, said Hezbollah’s arms, which the March 14 coalition opposes, should only be used to defend Lebanon.

“Hezbollah will not get involved in any domestic disputes and we need it [the resistance] and are in need of arms to defend Lebanon, no more no less ,” he said.

Jumblatt spoke extensively about the situation in Syria, where President Bashar Assad is facing growing isolation from the Arab and international community.

“Syria's salvation is through the Arab League initiative and there is no magical solution that would see the collapse of the regime and the transfer of power to another government,” Jumblatt said.

Jumblatt, who has repeatedly called for dialogue between opposition groups and the Syrian government, said that undisciplined armed groups, primarily Shabiha, are damaging to the Syrian army and government.

The Syrian government has been facing growing opposition since mid March with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Assad and the ruling Baath party. Protests have been met with a violent crackdown which has prompted the international community to take strict measures against the government.

The troubled country has become increasingly isolated as the Arab and international community have imposed punitive economic sanctions in a bid to force Assad to agree to an Arab peace plan designed to end the crisis in that country.

Jumblatt repeated his calls for the Druze community in Syria living in Jabal Arab not to join the armed groups in their fight against protesters.

“My call for you is not to be dragged into [sectarian] strife,” he added.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said Thursday that Syria has entered a state of civil war with more than 4,000 dead since the start of the uprising coupled with an increased number of army defectors.