Beirut - Dozens of pro-Syrian opposition followers Wednesday
blocked roads leading to Beirut, a few hours before a scheduled
protest by Lebanon's main labour union was due to start.
Burning tyres and sand blocked the main highways leading to the
capital and were blocked by followers of the Lebanese Shiite movement
Hezbollah and its ally Amal, to prevent people from reaching the
capital.
Army soldiers and police were on full alert and managed to
open some of the blocked roads, but the airport thoroughfare
was still obstructed by burning tyres.
'This is only a start,' said an opposition follower who was near
the airport.
The blockade came just hours before a scheduled demonstration by
Lebanon's top labour union to protest the high cost of living.
Lebanon is passing through its worst political crisis since its
1975-1990 civil war. Hezbollah, who is leading the opposition, has
been engaged in a campaign against Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's
government since November 2006. The standoff has left Lebanon without
a president for five months.
The Syrian-backed opposition has urged supporters to back the
strike by Lebanon's main labour union.
On Tuesday, the Western-backed government accused Hezbollah of
violating Lebanon's sovereignty by operating its own communications
network and installing spy cameras at Beirut airport.
The government, supported by the United States and a number of Arab
countries including Saudi Arabia, also removed the head of Beirut
airport security in another challenge to Hezbollah, which is backed
by Iran and Syria.
Hezbollah said the communications network was part of its security
apparatus and its ongoing fight against Israel.
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