LEBANON: Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits southern UNIFIL base

Record ID: 217822

  • Title: LEBANON: Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits southern UNIFIL base
  • Date: 26th November 2010
  • Summary: MORE OF THE CROWD VARIOUS OF THE RALLY BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 25, 2010) (REUTERS) ANTI-ERDOGAN PROTEST IN CENTRAL BEIRUT BILLBOARD OF ERDOGAN BEING TORN UP BY PROTESTERS MORE OF THE PROTESTERS RIOT POLICE GUARDING PROTEST PROTEST
  • Embargoed: 11th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UYFPN3IWVHTP262TR354LN84
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrapped up his two-day visit to Lebanon on Thursday (November 25) inaugurating Turkish-funded projects in Sidon and visiting Turkish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
    Turkey and Lebanon signed an agreement on Wednesday (November 24) to set up a free-trade-zone between the two countries as they move to strengthen bilateral ties.
    Erdogan's otherwise warm welcome was met by protests from Lebanon's Armenian community who accuse Turkey of committing genocide against their people during World War I.
    Dozens of Armenians gathered in Beirut's Martyrs' Square where they tore up a billboard carrying the image of Erdogan and after splattering it with red paint to symbolise blood.
    ''We are gathered here to remind the Lebanese and ourselves that we cannot forget our martyrs and at the very least, the perpetrator should apologise to the Lebanese people for what they have done and that is why we are protesting today,'' said one Lebanese Armenian protester.
    In Sidon, thousands of Lebanese gathered for a rally to welcome Erdogan and Prime Minister Saad Hariri who were attending the opening of a burn hospital funded by Turkey.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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