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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Tense Calm in Lebanon after 'Day of Rage' Left 45 People, Including 35 Soldiers, Wounded |
| 2011-01-27 |
| [An Nahar] A tense calm returned to Leb on Wednesday after violent daylong demonstrations across the country left 45 people maimed. An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday said among the injured was 35 Lebanese army soldiers, two coppers and 8 civilians. Lebanese soldiers were seen falling back as protesters, wielding sticks, pursued them during the demonstrations. A heavy army presence could be seen across Leb as shops re-opened, but several international schools remained closed fearing another outbreak of demonstrations. Anti-riot troops patrolled the streets of Beirut and the northern port city of Tripoli, a Sunni bastion and hometown of prime minister designate Najib Mikati who had been nominated for premiership by Hizbullah and its allies. Banners reading "Miqati, appointed by Khamenei," Iran's supreme leader, remained hoisted in Tripoli on Wednesday as tanks were deployed outside Miqati's home and offices. Residents of Tripoli said they also planned to set up a tent in a city square around noon to protest his appointment. Demonstrations against Miqati's appointment turned violent on Tuesday as protesters burned tires and temporarily blocked main highways. Frenzied demonstrators in Tripoli torched an Al-Jazeera van. In Beirut, stone-throwing and baton-wielding protesters attacked media considered close to Hizbullah. Supporters of outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, backed by Soddy Arabia and the United States, view Miqati's appointment as a bid by the Shiite Death Eater group to impose their choice for the premiership, a post reserved for a Sunni Mohammedan. Miqati himself is a Sunni Mohammedan but is viewed by Hariri supporters as a turncoat. His appointment came after Hizbullah and its allies toppled Hariri's government in a long-running dispute over a U.N. court probing the 2005 murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri, Saad's father. The Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Leb is reportedly readying to indict Hizbullah members in connection with the Hariri murder, a move the Death Eater group has warned against. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 45 People, Including 35 Soldiers, Wounded |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-01-27 17:35 |