LEBANON: Hezbollah official said more surprises other than current protest to topple the Western-backed government
Record ID:
1533127
LEBANON: Hezbollah official said more surprises other than current protest to topple the Western-backed government
- Title: LEBANON: Hezbollah official said more surprises other than current protest to topple the Western-backed government
- Date: 2nd December 2006
- Summary: (LIVE WNS) BEIRUT, LEBANON (DECEMBER 1, 2006) (REUTERS) TOP VIEW OF PROTEST PROTESTERS MARCH DOWN STREET
- Embargoed: 17th December 2006 11:42
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVADY3I5056UKRZ3Z7UKVOTI582L
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Hezbollah official said that they have more surprises up their sleeve other than this protest aiming to topple the Western-backed government.
"We won't leave these squares until this authority takes back its mistake and comply to the will of the majority of the people, who most of them want to escape this crisis and form a unity government. The ball now is in the court of the group ruling illegally and unconstitutionally and which holds responsibility for all the next steps we are going to take. We have more surprises other than the protest today," Hezbollah member of parliament Ali Ammar said in a speech to protesters while their continued their demonstration through the night.
Opposition supporters demanding the resignation of the Western-backed government continue their protest through the night and have set up tents to block p roads leading to government offices.
Pro-Syrian Hezbollah and its allies have called on Lebanese from across the country to take part in the protest to force out the government.
Large numbers of security forces, backed by armoured personnel carriers, deployed in central Beirut, where heavy turnout for the protest is expected. The forces also deployed at the capital's entrances.
Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has branded the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora a U.S. puppet.
According to one of the protesters, they are there to teach their government a lesson.
The anti-Syrian politicians who control the cabinet say the Shi'ite Muslim group and its allies want to stage a coup. Siniora said on Thursday (November 30) that his government would not stand down.
Many Lebanese fear that large protests could spill over into violence. Tension between Sunni Muslims and Shi'ites is high, as are the bad feelings between Christians who support leaders allied to the rival camps.
Scores of soldiers, using barbed wire and metal barriers, cordoned off the complex housing the government offices in the downtown area, where Siniora and most of his ministers were monitoring the situation.
Siniora and many ministers were inside while less than 30 metres away, the crowds gathered, waving red-and-white Lebanese flags under banners demanding a government of national unity. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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