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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Curfew imposed in Beirut after clashes |
| 2007-01-26 |
| (Xinhua) -- Clashes between pro- and anti-government factions died down on late Thursday after a nighttime curfew was imposed in the capital following a day of violence which left at least one killed and more than 81 others wounded. Dozens of casualties in the clashes pitting supporters of the Mustaqbal movement, headed by parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, against an alliance grouping Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement, Lebanon's local Naharnet website reported. The security sources were also quoted as saying that the casualties included 17 soldiers, four of whom are officers and over 200 cars were smashed during the daytime clashes. But according to Hezbollah's al-Manar TV earlier report, altogether four students were shot dead and 25 others were injured, many by gunfire, in the clashes erupted between pro- and anti-government students at Beirut Arab University (BAU) on Thursday. The pan-Arab TV channel's footage showed that fighting started between the followers of rival factions with sticks and stones on the university campus then spilled into nearby streets. It developed into exchanges of gunfire from assault rifles and pistols involving students and residents from both sides. The report said that it was not clear who fired first but television stations run by the opposition blamed the deaths on pro-government gunmen. In order to disperse the frantic crowds, Lebanese soldiers fired into the air and later deployed in large numbers in an effort to control the clashes. Thick smoke rose from the area, where rioters had set cars and tyres ablaze. The soldiers also used military trucks to evacuate scores of civilians trapped on the streets by the violence. On Thursday evening, Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr ordered a nighttime curfew, which would last from 8:30 p.m. (1830GMT) Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday (0400 GMT), to help the army enforce law and order. In an effort to avoid the spread of violence, Lebanese rival politicians also rushed to call their supporters to keep calm and restrained. |
| Posted by:Fred |