Sunday, January 27, 2008

Al-Manar TV: "Three Killed in Beirut Protests over Power Cuts"

It seems to be the season for power cuts, but they know how to do it right in Beirut:
Three men were martyred and more than 18 others injured in Beirut on Sunday as unknown gunmen opened fire during protests over chronic power cuts in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Two of the martyrs are, Ahmad Hamza Hamza, 21, was a member of the Amal movement, a party member said, but insisted he was not involved in the demonstrations and the second martyr is Youssif Shokeir.

Spontaneous protests erupt in the southern suburbs of Beirut where demonstrators had blocked roads with blazing tires to protest at power cuts in that area. And as night fell, demonstrators also cut the main airport road with burning tires and that similar protests were underway in other parts of Beirut's southern suburbs.

An Amal official said that Hamza was not among the protesters. "Hamza was not a demonstrator. He cooperated with the army on a regular basis whenever there were such similar protests in the region," he said. "The protests were initially spontaneous."

According to the security official, the shooting occurred after demonstrators set ablaze tyres, blocking a main road linking the Chiyah and Mar Mikhael neighborhoods in the southern suburbs to protest power shortages. The army fired warning shots to disperse the demonstrators, the official said.

Dozens of demonstrators were on the streets between the neighborhoods of Chiyah and Mar Mikhael and some protesters were also emerging on the streets further south, witnesses said.

Demonstrators have faced off with security forces on several occasions in the past few days over the power cuts.
Al-Manar TV now allows reader comments. Here is someone named "Syed" from the US:
It is tragic to see the Muslim youth go like this. But all the Lebanese people should know the reality of this gun fire, that ZIONISTS did it and that Saniora government is behind it. A SAD SITUATION!!
Another comment is titled "This what Israel looking for." Finally, someone named Arnon in New Zealand comments:
The best way to solve problems is to do what Syed (USA) does: blame the Zionists. Electricity cuts in Southern Beirut? blame the Zionists! Tsunami in Indonesia? blame the Zionists! earth quaqe in Iran? blame the Zionists. How genious.
You said it, Brother. The only person I know named "Arnon" is from Israel, by the way.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

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