Beirut - The head of Lebanon's anti-Syrian ruling majority, Saad Hariri, has met for the first time in two years with pro-Syrian Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, it was confirmed Monday.

The meeting, which took place Sunday night, was described by close sources to both leaders as "fruitful and essential to preserve national unity."

A statement issued by both parties Monday said: "There was an affirmation of national unity and civil peace and the need to take all measures to prevent tension ... and to reinforce dialogue and to avoid strife regardless of political differences."

The joint statement described the meeting, part of which was aired by the Hezbollah television station, as "honest and open". It was Hariri's first meeting with Nasrallah since the 33-day war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to strengthen government work and continue contacts to encourage an atmosphere of dialogue.

Present at the meeting were Nasrallah's political assistant Hajj Hussein Khalil and Hariri's political advisers Nader Hariri and Mustapha Nasser.

Differences between Hezbollah, a pro-Syrian and Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim movement which runs an armed wing, and members of the ruling majority, flared into armed conflict last May.

Fighters of Hezbollah and its allies briefly took control of predominantly Sunni Muslim West Beirut, prompting an armed response by Hariri's supporters and their backers.

Observers described the talks between Hariri and Nasrallah as the most significant of a series of meetings between politicians from the ruling Western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The ruling parliamentary majority is calling for Hezbollah to disarm, in favour of building a stronger Lebanese national army.

However, Hezbollah insists that its weapons are essential to a Lebanese national resistance against Israel.

Israel failed to destroy Hezbollah during the 33-day war in 2006, which was sparked by a Hezbollah cross-border raid during which the Hzbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers. (dpa)