WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on Thursday that Lebanon's Hezbollah must stop its "disruptive activities" as the Shiite militant group is having conflicts with the government troops.

    "Hezbollah needs to make a choice: Be a terrorist organization or be a political party, but quit trying to be both. They need to stop their disruptive activities now," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

    State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also expressed U.S. concern over the outbreak of violence between Hezbollah militants and Lebanese government troops.

    Riots swept Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Wednesday as supporters of the Hezbollah opposition and government backers clashed in neighborhoods on Wednesday, leaving at least eight people injured.

    Washington has long considered Hezbollah a terrorist group.