Beirut - Beirut was deserted Wednesday as people stayed home amid continuing tension after opposition followers blocked streets with tyre-burning to protest the high cost of living.
Streets usually bustling with cars and people were empty and the city came to a standstill, reminding many of the bad old days of the 1975-1990 civil war.
'What we saw today in the streets is a rehearsal for a new civil war,' said Nadra Sinno, a Moslem who lives in Corniche al Mazraa, an area that witnessed the heaviest confrontation between the opposition and others loyal to the western-backed government.
Masked youths faced off in the area, throwing stones and insulting each other as army troops kept them apart.
At lest seven people were wounded earlier in the day, when a sonic bomb was thrown on protestors in the area.
In the afternoon, followers of the opposition and members loyal to the Western-backed government were involved in clashes using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Hospital sources said a nun was wounded in the shoulder by a stray bullet.
By the afternoon, the streets were full of soldiers, many in riot gear, especially near the information ministry in the centre of the city and the nearby Central Bank.
Some roads which had access were cut in the early hours of the morning were still closed, including that leading to the international airport, leaving many passengers stranded.
'This is not fair for all of us Lebanese. Hezbollah is holding the country hostage,' Maroun Kenaan, a Lebanese who arrived at the airport in the afternoon, said in reaction repeated by many.
Opposition sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa that the road leading to the airport may stay closed for a long time.
Other unconfirmed reports indicated Hezbollah was planning to set up tents near Beirut airport, like they did in downtown Beirut on December 1, 2006, when they blocked the road near the governmental palace. The camp is still in downtown Beirut.
'Hezbollah is invading the city, by doing this,' said majority MP Wael Abu Faour.
Hezbollah followers were seen patrolling on motorcycles in most areas near Beirut airport and their security men were seen standing with walkie-talkies.
Opposition sources close to Hezbollah told dpa that House Speaker Nabih Berri and officials in Hezbollah told the government the airport road would be reopened when the government reinstated the pro-Hezbollah airport security chief, Wafiq Choukair.
He was dismissed by a government decision on Tuesday after being accused of helping Hezbollah install cameras to monitor planes landing at Beirut International Airport.
'This is not an economic protest. This is an attempt to overthrow the government,' said Salwa Baltagi 20, a supporter of the government.
'If they are trying to overthrow the government, then this is the start of the civil war. We need to protect our neighbourhood,' said Ahmed Kaakati, a follower of the government.
Opposition protestors, on the other hand, believe they have a right to protest the high cost of living.
'Our families need to live. We can't make a living and we need to get our voices heard,' said Ali, 21.
'These are the last days of the government which is backed by the Americans,' said Hussein, another opposition follower.
A strike and demonstration called for by the General Confederation of Labor Union (CGTL) were cancelled at midday to avoid any escalation of the situation in the streets.
The strike was called for by the country's main labour union to force the government to raise the monthly minimum wage which has been unchanged since 1996.
Although the cabinet on Tuesday agreed to a 130-dollar increase a month to 330 dollars, the GCTL said it was nowhere near enough.
The union is demanding that the minimum wage be increased to 600 dollars but the government has balked at such a raise, and Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned it could lead to rampant inflation.
© Deutsche Presse-Agentur
??May 8th, 2008 - 18:20:19
There won't be much left of Iraq to worry about, will there?
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