Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Lebanese officials meeting in Qatar to investigate the killing of civilians and other violations of international humanitarian law during last week's violent clashes in the country.

The Washington-based rights group said that all of Lebanon's political leaders should "support impartial judicial investigations and not try to shield their supporters."

Lebanon, stuck in the middle of over one and a half years of political tensions, is having the leaders of the numerous political factions meet in Qatar in an attempt to resolve their differences.

The frustrations boiled over earlier this month when Hezbollah-backed opposition militants took control of West Beirut in bloody fighting with pro-government groups that at least 65 dead and 200 wounded, Lebanese Internal Security Forces reported.

HRW said in a press statement on Sunday that it has documented violations of international humanitarian law on both sides, including attacks against civilians and civilian property.

"Armed gunmen have acted as if they're above the law in Lebanon for far too long," said Joe Stork, HRW's deputy Middle East director. "The Lebanese government should bring to justice all those who killed civilians, or who executed fighters in their custody."

Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud stepped down last November when his term expired. The opposition, led by Hezbollah - who fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006 - is demanding a greater say in government.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, with the backing of Washington, has refused to give in to the Shiite group's demands of more power, which was brought to a head when the government shut down Hezbollah's communications network.

The Shiite group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said such a move was tantamount to "a declaration of war" prompting militants to go to the streets in a move reminiscent of Lebanon's decade and a half Civil War that ended in 1990.