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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanon deploys more troops in Beirut |
| 2006-12-05 |
| Lebanon’s army deployed more soldiers in Beirut on Monday after the killing of a pro-Syrian Shia Muslim demonstrator raised fears anti-government protests could turn into sectarian violence. Security sources said the military increased its forces in the Sunni districts that Shia protesters drive through to get to central Beirut where the Hezbollah-led opposition is holding a sit-in to topple the Western-backed government. These districts witnessed several clashes between residents and protesters on Sunday – from stone-throwing incidents to fights with sticks and knives. In the most serious incident, gunmen fired from assault rifles at a group of protesters in the Sunni Qasqas neighbourhood, a stronghold for the anti-Syrian majority coalition, killing one young man and wounding others. The opposition said the incidents would not drive it to abandon plans for toppling the government. The Shia group Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, and its allies in the opposition had taken to the streets and were holding an indefinite sit-in to force the resignation of Western-backed Sunni Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Many politicians and observers had said the crisis could spill over into sectarian strife in a country that had gone through two civil wars in the last century. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Many politicians and observers had said the crisis could spill over into sectarian strife in a country that had gone through two civil wars in the last century. I seem to remember more. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-12-05 23:44 |