Middle East News
Lebanese journalists protest attack on media (Extra)
By DPA
May 10, 2008, 9:41 GMT

Beirut - Dozens of Lebanese and foreign journalist gathered in Beirut Saturday to protest the attack by the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah on news media owned by a family opposed to it.

The terrestrial and satellite TV station Future TV, satellite TV news channel Future News, the daily Al-Mustakbal and Radio Orient - were forced to stop operating on Friday by Hezbollah. All are owned by the head of the ruling majority, Saad Hariri.

His father Rafik Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister who was assassinated in a car bomb blast in 2005, set up Future Television in 1992.

'This is an attack on the freedom of press,' said Sahar al Khateeb, an anchor at Furture Television. 'We are not their enemies for God's sake,' she shouted.

Other journalists chanted: 'They will not silence our voices. Lebanon is for everybody, and not for them (Hezbollah).' The protest was due to end near the headquarters of Future television.

Action against the Hariri media included a rocket attack on one of Future television's offices which was empty, and threats by gunmen against the news studio building, saying they would open fire if the channel did not stop broadcasting.

At least 20 people have been reported killed since the fighting between anti-Syrian forces and Hezbollah began Wednesday.