Beirut - A sonic bomb was thrown at demonstrators gathering
in Kornich al-Mazraa in Lebanon, wounding at least five people, among
them two soldiers, ahead of a labour protest Wednesday.
Dozens of pro-Syrian opposition followers, mainly from the Shiite
Hezbollah movement and its ally Amal, blocked roads leading to Beirut
a few hours ahead of the scheduled protest about the high cost of
living by Lebanon's main labour union.
The strike and anti-government protests forced Beirut's
international airport to suspend flights, airport officials said.
They said 32 flights to and from Lebanon's only civilian airport
had either been delayed or cancelled. Airport staff were due to join
the strike from 0600 to 1200 GMT.
A Lebanese army officer at the scene told Deutsche Presse Agentur
dpa that the 'situation is very tense and we are trying to avoid any
confrontation.'
The head of the Lebanese Labour Union, Ghassan Ghosen, told dpa
that 'we are continuing with our protest, because we are fighting for
our social rights.'
Ghosen rebuffed accusations by the majority that the strike is
being politicised.
'We are trying to secure a road for our demonstration ... but the
strike is going on,' he said.
Burning tyres and sand blocked the main highways leading to the
capital.
Opposition followers and others loyal to the ruling majority were
seen facing off in the area and shouting angry slogans against each
other. Some were seen carrying sticks and others stones.
Lebanese police managed to disperse both sides, but followers of
majority leader Saad Hariri were distributing leaflets warning
opposition followers not to pass through their areas.
'We are warning them not to step foot in our areas,' a majority
follower said.
The scenes were reminiscent of an anti-government protest in 2007
that led to some of Lebanon's worst internal strife since its 1975-90
civil war.
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 Syrian-backed opposition has urged supporters to back the
strike by Lebanon's main labour union.
On Tuesday, the Western-backed government accused the Hezbollah
militant movement 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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