 Gunfire erupted outside the Arab University, in Beirut Tuesday following an argument between opposition MPs Walid Eido, Akram Chehayeb and pro-government students. Contradictory reports emerged that during a seminar organized by opposition MPs Eido criticized one of the loyalist parties, which led partisans to ask the MP to apologize publicly. As Eido refused, chaos broke out and Chehayeb's body guards opened fire into the air to disperse the students and cordoned the area to prevent further escalation.
| "Beat it, y'little ratz!" |
Witnesses also say that in order to impede the seminar, men not from the university entered the building and surrounded it and later attacked both MPs, forcing the body guards to shoot. A civil defense member on the scene said the incident did not result in any injuries. One judicial source said the Internal Security Forces unit that was on campus to supervise the event called for back-up and additional ISF members and a Lebanese Army unit were sent. Security officials tried to break apart the participants in an attempt to facilitate the exit of the MPs. The sources indicated that Hizbullah, the Amal Movement, the Baath Party and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party immediately contacted their respective student cabinets and instructed them not to get involved and stay away from the dispute. Upon his exit, Eido stated that the incident should not be given any dimensions. "It was a mere divergence of opinions," he added. |