BEIRUT Lebanon’s opposition on Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of its sit-in in central Beirut, vowing to stay on for years if need be to force the resignation of the government. "The sit-in began because there is a government that we consider illegitimate, and as long as our goal has not been achieved we will stay there indefinitely," Hezbollah spokesman Hussein Rahal told AFP. The continued protest comes as the country grapples with a dangerous political vacuum that has left the presidency vacant because of a standoff between pro and anti government forces.

Groups of young men mill outside the tents at night, some smoking water pipes and others chit-chatting about politics, reading a newspaper or watching television. Several of the opposition interviewed by AFP said they work in shifts manning the tents — which they said number 600 — with some going to work during the day and returning to the camp at night. "When we started we thought the government would fall quickly but the days have gone by and now I think it will take a while," Emile Hashem 45 , who is responsible for the camp area manned by supporters of General  Michel Aoun. Most of the orange tents, adorned with pictures of Aoun, are empty during the day. Some have television sets and small piles of mattresses. A washing machine stands outside one tent.Hashem says only 100 supporters of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement sleep in 50 of the 125 tents every night. Hezbollah occupies a nearby square filled with mostly empty tents guarded by members wearing caps marked maintain discipline.

"Still, we are ready to stay until Siniora leaves and if that takes 10 years so be it," he added. "We are here 24 hours a day and we are staying," chimed in a Hezbollah member who did not wish to give his name. Hashem and a Hezbollah official said a rally was planned Saturday to commemorate the year-long sit-in.

The prime minister for his part has ignored the protestors camped under his windows and refrained from removing them by force to avoid an escalation.

Troops with armored vehicles and barbed wire have kept the protesters away from government headquarters in the Ottoman-era Serail building since the protest began on December 1 last year.

"Mr Siniora respects their right to demonstrate but what they are doing is infringing on people’s freedom and it is translating into millions of dollars in losses for businesses," his spokesman Aref El-Abed told AFP.

Ralph Eid, who owns a shoe store in the downtown area and is a member of the merchants’ association, said the standoff with the government had spelled the death knell for many businesses.

"They have taken us hostage by their action," he said. "If they want to make a political statement, they can do so for a day, two or 10 days, but it’s been a full year and they are killing everybody’s business," he said.