Strike paralyses life in Lebanon
Reuters, Beirut
Thousands of Lebanese protesters blocked main roads in Beirut and around the country with rubble and burning tyres yesterday at the start of a general strike called by the opposition to try to topple the government. A gunman fired on protesters in the ancient Christian town of Byblos, wounding three people, security sources said. Soldiers arrested the gunman and seized weapons from his house. Two protesters were wounded in a similar shooting in Batroun. No other gunfire was reported during the demonstrations across Lebanon, but some scuffles broke out between protesters and pro-government loyalists, especially in Christian areas. The roads to Lebanon's only international airport and to Beirut port were blocked and several Arab and international airlines suspended flights to Beirut, though the national flag carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) made no announcement on its plans.
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A Lebanese soldier clears a road at Nahr al-Mot area at the northern entrance of Beirut yesterday. Five people were wounded by gunshots at dawn Tuesday as militants blocked roads across the country at the start of a one-day strike called by the opposition in its latest bid to topple the Western-backed government. PHOTO: AFP |
