Lebanese riot police have fired smoke grenades and sprayed water to disperse dozens of students protesting against the visit of senior US diplomats to Beirut. The protest turned nasty on Saturday, when security forces tried to clear protesters who gathered outside the government headquarters in anticipation of a visit by David Welch, the US assistant secretary of state. Welch and Elliott Abrams, a US deputy national security adviser, began a trip to the region last week.| Side note: Cheney, Bush 41, Burns, and now Welch and Abrams. All in the Middle East capital cities at the same time. Buckle your seatbelts, 'Burgers. |
 Some of the protesters, waving Lebanese flags and carrying placards protesting against US influence in Lebanon and the Middle East, pelted police with stones. One placard read: "Welch is not welcome in Lebanon". Aljazeera reported that police used tear gas to disperse the anti-US demonstrators near government offices. The demonstrators mostly belonged to the Baath Party, the Syrian National Social Party, Hizb Allah and the Amal Movement. |