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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

High tension prevails in Beirut following bloody clashes

2007-01-27

(KUNA) -- Uneasy calm prevailed throughout the Lebanese capital on Friday following day-long clashes between pro and anti-government activists who fought with fists, sticks and stones in wide-spread violence that also included occasional gunfire shooting. Traffic was thin on most streets, and only a small number of stores opened, after a Lebanese Army-imposed overnight curfew ended at 8:30 a.m. All educational institutions, schools and universities were shut in line with a decision by Minister of Education Khaled Qabbani, and some civilians were seen buying necessities. Army troops manned checkpoints at crossings of roads, some public locations and vicinity of the Arab University that witnessed some of the fiercest confrontations between activists of the March-14 Movement of the influential MP Saad Al-Hariri and followers of Hezbollah. Yesterday's clashes reportedly broke out as a result of heated arguments between two students from the two rival camps on campus of the university and quickly developed into wide-scale confrontations that took the lives of at least three people and wounded 152 others. The war-like scenes at the flashpoints revived memories of the 1975-1990 civil war, when warring factions fought on streets of the city. The street clashes coincided with the convening of the Paris-III conference of donor countries, who pledged up to 7.6 billion US dollars in aid for aiding the government of Fuad Al-Siniora. Some leading figures in the opposition camp, including Hezbollah and other groups namely followers of General Michel Aoun, have criticized the Paris conference and warned Al-Siniora against accepting aid for "certain political purposes that contradict national interests." The clashes yesterday followed a day of striking by the opposition against the government in a bid to press for larger representation in the executive administration. The country has been gripped with serious political crises since assassination of the former premier, Rafic Al-Hariri, February 14, 2005. Now, his loyalists accuse the opposition of fuelling tension and troubles with the intention to overshadow forecast international prosecution of suspected culprits.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Bomb kills [anti-Syrian] politician in Lebanon

2005-06-21

An anti-Syrian politician has been killed in a bomb blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut, police say. George Hawi, the former leader of the Lebanese Communist Party, died when the blast destroyed his car in the Wata Musaitbi district of the city. Mr Hawi is the second anti-Syrian figure to die in Beirut this month. The attack comes a day after the anti-Syrian bloc gained a majority in Lebanon's elections, the first since Damascus ended its 29-year occupation. Anti Syrian you say? Who'da thunk it...? Additional: Lebanese minister of justice Khaled Qabbani said that the explosion which claimed the life of the former secretary general of the Lebanese communist party George Hawi today in Wata al-Mseitbeh area in Beirut was controlled by remote control. Security sources expected the explosive to have had been placed under Hawi's seat in the car. Witnesses said that the car completed its running after the explosion for 300 meters and they heard the driver shouting and then he jumped from the window, injured, while George Hawi's was suffering great damage in his stomach. The witnesses added that Hawi was alive the moment he was taken out of the car, but he died immediatly after because his injuries were very grave. Worthy mentioning that Hawi was an opposition for the policies of the Lebanese government and some of Syria's policies. However, he was known for his moderate attitude in calling for a new phase of reciprocated respects between the two states.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Hamade, Justice officials discuss October attack

2005-06-15

Justice Minister Khaled Qabbani conferred with MP Marwan Hamade on Tuesday about the latest developments in the investigation into the October 1, 2004 assassination attempt against Hamade, in which the MP was severely injured and his companion killed. Accompanied by his lawyer, Salim Othman, Hamade spoke with Qabbani along with Investigating Magistrate Saqr Saqr, in charge of the case. Hamade expressed gratitude for the minister's concern, and praised Qabbani's competence and honesty. The MP said he hoped that cooperation with the international community would yield results in the case. "All these incidents confirm my accusations about the security regime that spread corruption in Lebanon and its institutions for the past years," he added. Judicial sources said Hamade provided Saqr with evidence and information that could lead to an arrest. When asked, the MP said: "This is confidential and we will keep it secret so that none of the criminals takes advantage of the situation."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

FBI forensics team inspects site of Beirut blast

2005-06-04

A team of forensic experts from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived in Lebanon to assist investigations into the murder of anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir. The team arrived after the Lebanese government requested help from both Washington and Paris. A five-man team from France was expected to arrive in the early morning hours. Lebanese security sources told The Daily Star that four FBI forensic experts visited the blast site at 5.30 p.m. yesterday evening, accompanied by two members of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. The team arrived in Beirut immediately after Lebanese Justice Minister Khaled Qabbani sent an urgent appeal to the U.S. and France to send experts to assist with the investigation. It is understood that their immediate arrival on the site has led to speculation that they were already in Lebanon. When contacted by The Daily Star, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the FBI presence. She said: "We have no comment on that issue." But the French Embassy in Beirut confirmed a team of forensic experts was scheduled to arrive in Beirut last night. It is understood both the American and French teams will meet with Qabbani later today.

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