(Adds details.)

CRAWFORD, Texas, May 8 (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday demanded Hezbollah stop "disruptive activities" in Lebanon after the Iranian-backed group began a new street campaign aimed at challenging the U.S.-backed government.

"Hezbollah needs to make a choice: be a terrorist organization or be a political party, but quit trying to be both," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Texas where U.S. President George W. Bush was at his ranch preparing for his daughter's wedding.

"They need to start playing a constructive role and stop their disruptive activities now," Johndroe said.

Bush will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on May 18 in Egypt, at the end of a week-long visit to the Middle East.

Gun battles erupted in the Lebanese capital of Beirut after the government declared the group illegal and removed the chief of airport security, a figure close to the group. Roads to the airport and elsewhere had been blocked by Hezbollah supporters. (Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, editing by David Alexander)

AlertNet news is provided by