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Three protestors killed in gunfight in S Beirut
 (Xinhua) -- Three protestors were killed during a gunfight which broke out between the Lebanese army and the demonstrators in southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, local NBN TV channel reported. Earlier report said Lebanese opposition movement Amal official Ali Hassan Hamzeh, who was participating in the protest over power blackout in the capital, was killed during the clash, which also left several others injured. Hamzeh, 35, was in charge of Hay Moawwad neighborhood of Beirut. A second Amal protestor and a third one from another opposition party Hezbollah were later killed during the clash, security sources were quoted as saying. The gunfight broke out when the Lebanese army tried to disperse protestors who were blocking traffic with burning tires in Mar Mikhail - Al Cheyah in the southern suburb of Beirut. At around 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), some 50 demonstrators started burning tiers closing the road linking Mar Michael to Al Cheyah in protest against power cuts, chanting slogans against the government of Premier Fouad Seniora, local LBC TV reported. TV footage showed Lebanese army troops trying to disperse the protestors who tossed stones at soldiers, wounding one. The confrontation then developed into gunfire, and the army closed all roads leading to the area, with snipers were positioned on roofs in the area. Posted by: Fred 2008-01-28 |
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