Hezbollah's new political platform signals a shift in its position as it seeks to portray itself as an integral part of Lebanon's domestic scene rather than an Iranian proxy, analysts said Tuesday.

"The manifesto is reassuring as it shows Hezbollah's integration with Lebanese political life," said Paul Salem, who heads the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Centre."In the first manifesto, it posited itself straight out as a proponent of an Islamic republic, whereas this document strikes a balance between the party's ties to Lebanon and its ties to Iran," Hezbollah's main backer, Salem told AFP.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday announced his party's second manifesto since 1985. The first manifesto called for the establishment of Islamic rule in Lebanon, but the party leadership has toned down its rhetoric in recent years as it gained political clout.

On Monday, Nasrallah said that his party's continued ideological commitment to Iran's brand of Islamic government did not contradict its role in local politics. Political analyst Rafiq Nasrallah, who is not related to the Hezbollah chief, said the second manifesto signalled a new phase in the militant party's history.

"Hezbollah has now confirmed that it is a major player in local politics, thereby contradicting its first manifesto," he told AFP. "In this manifesto, Hezbollah did not say it was the sole power on the ground, but spoke of cohabitation between a strong army and popular resistance," Nasrallah added.

But Salem points out that the second manifesto, while softer in tone, nonetheless defends the party's right to bear arms."It refers to the weapons as a fixture and not as a transitional phase followed by integration with the army," he said. "And not all Lebanese will agree to that."

Oussama Safa, who heads the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies, says that while the manifesto sounds more "Lebanese" in tone, Hezbollah is unequivocal about its right to keep its arsenal. "This manifesto clearly shows Hezbollah's arms are not open to discussion," he told AFP. But in its manifesto, Hezbollah, which has been accused of running a state within a state, notably with its social and humanitarian operations, called for a united Lebanon that represents everyone.

"We want a Lebanon that is united through its land, its people, its state and institutions," Nasrallah said in announcing the 32-page manifesto. Hezbollah is the only faction which refused to disarm after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. It argues that its weapons are needed to protect the country against  Israel, which withdrew its troops from south Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

Nasrallah, 49, has headed Hezbollah since 1992 when his predecessor, Abbas Moussaoui, was killed in an Israeli helicopter raid. The party has participated in parliament since 1992 and had ministers in  government since 2005.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri's new cabinet in November agreed on a policy statement that acknowledged Hezbollah's right to hold weapons for use against Israel, despite disagreement by some members of the ruling majority.The statement underlines the right of "Lebanon, its government, its people, its army and its resistance" to liberate all Lebanese territory.