Six Martyrs Fell in Beirut Southern Suburb during Protests against Deteriorating Living Conditions and Power Cuts
Source: Al-Manar TV, 28-1-2008
Lebanon was different Monday morning.
Six martyrs fell in Beirut's southern suburb during protests Sunday against deteriorating living conditions and power cuts.
Hizbullah issued a statement and demanded the Lebanese army clearly announces to the Lebanese and the families of the martyrs and the injured, which side was shooting to kill unarmed civilians.
"Were those martyred and injured shot by the Lebanese army? If so, who gave the soldiers orders to open fire? Who's responsible for this atrocious crime and for the benefit of whom?" asked Hizbullah. The statement added that what happened was a big crime committed against people demanding their living conditions be improved, "amid deteriorating social and economic conditions which the ruling authority is responsible for." The statement added that the crime was committed at a time the ruling authority was threatening those who would take to the streets to express themselves and their demands. Hizbullah vowed in the statement that it will not rest before the killers, the instigators and the sides responsible for this crime are exposed.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah announced the martyrdom of Mahmoud Abdul Amir Mansour, who was shot dead Sunday while coordinating with the Lebanese army to ease down the tension in the Mar Mekhail area. Hizbullah's civil defense body also announced the martyrdom of civil defense worker Mustapha Ali Amhaz, who were shot dead (as seen on TV footage) while giving first aid to another fellow civil defense worker from another body who was shot before him. For its part, the Amal Movement announced the martyrdom of Ahmad Hamza. He was the first to get shot and killed in the incident. Sports Minister in Fouad Saniora's unconstitutional government Ahmad Fatfat claimed that Hamza was killed as he was shooting at the army. However, a Lebanese army statement refuted Fatfat's claims and said that Hamza was shot dead as he was coordinating easing tension with Lebanese army officers. The army said in a communiqué that it had opened an investigation.
Both Amal and Hizbullah called for self restraint and urged the protesters to go home and allow the security forces to restore order. "The situation must be contained. We appeal to all the people who are on the streets to go home so that security forces can restore calm to the region," Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil said.
Khalil insisted that Amal was not behind the protests, saying: "We believe that such actions do not resolve the demands being made by the protesters."
The February 14 bloc quickly blamed the opposition for the unrest.
"The forces of the Syrian-Iranian axis are fomenting unrest and these events are very dangerous," it said in a statement. "The opposition, which answers to Syria and Iran, is solely responsible for the blood spilled today."
ODD BEHAVIOR BY LEBANESE ARMY
After six unarmed civilians were killed in Sunday's protests, Lebanese army armored vehicles and soldiers conducted several measures which led to terrifying some residents of Beirut's southern suburb, some of whom were arrested. Other people were beaten and injured by soldiers, particularly reporters from Al-Jazeera and New TV stations. Army armored vehicles also drove over civilian cars parked on both sides of the road.
At the same time, an army battalion of armored vehicles crossed the road leading to the Saint Teresa - Jamous crossroads towards the Sfeir Bridge. Soldiers on the vehicles opened fire at both sides of the road and injured a passerby. In the morning, stores were found to be riddled with bullets. This "show" that took place in a location by this army unit that was more than 200 meters far from the place where the protests had taken place.
Lebanon was different Monday morning.
Six martyrs fell in Beirut's southern suburb during protests Sunday against deteriorating living conditions and power cuts.
Hizbullah issued a statement and demanded the Lebanese army clearly announces to the Lebanese and the families of the martyrs and the injured, which side was shooting to kill unarmed civilians.
"Were those martyred and injured shot by the Lebanese army? If so, who gave the soldiers orders to open fire? Who's responsible for this atrocious crime and for the benefit of whom?" asked Hizbullah. The statement added that what happened was a big crime committed against people demanding their living conditions be improved, "amid deteriorating social and economic conditions which the ruling authority is responsible for." The statement added that the crime was committed at a time the ruling authority was threatening those who would take to the streets to express themselves and their demands. Hizbullah vowed in the statement that it will not rest before the killers, the instigators and the sides responsible for this crime are exposed.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah announced the martyrdom of Mahmoud Abdul Amir Mansour, who was shot dead Sunday while coordinating with the Lebanese army to ease down the tension in the Mar Mekhail area. Hizbullah's civil defense body also announced the martyrdom of civil defense worker Mustapha Ali Amhaz, who were shot dead (as seen on TV footage) while giving first aid to another fellow civil defense worker from another body who was shot before him. For its part, the Amal Movement announced the martyrdom of Ahmad Hamza. He was the first to get shot and killed in the incident. Sports Minister in Fouad Saniora's unconstitutional government Ahmad Fatfat claimed that Hamza was killed as he was shooting at the army. However, a Lebanese army statement refuted Fatfat's claims and said that Hamza was shot dead as he was coordinating easing tension with Lebanese army officers. The army said in a communiqué that it had opened an investigation.
Both Amal and Hizbullah called for self restraint and urged the protesters to go home and allow the security forces to restore order. "The situation must be contained. We appeal to all the people who are on the streets to go home so that security forces can restore calm to the region," Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil said.
Khalil insisted that Amal was not behind the protests, saying: "We believe that such actions do not resolve the demands being made by the protesters."
The February 14 bloc quickly blamed the opposition for the unrest.
"The forces of the Syrian-Iranian axis are fomenting unrest and these events are very dangerous," it said in a statement. "The opposition, which answers to Syria and Iran, is solely responsible for the blood spilled today."
ODD BEHAVIOR BY LEBANESE ARMY
After six unarmed civilians were killed in Sunday's protests, Lebanese army armored vehicles and soldiers conducted several measures which led to terrifying some residents of Beirut's southern suburb, some of whom were arrested. Other people were beaten and injured by soldiers, particularly reporters from Al-Jazeera and New TV stations. Army armored vehicles also drove over civilian cars parked on both sides of the road.
At the same time, an army battalion of armored vehicles crossed the road leading to the Saint Teresa - Jamous crossroads towards the Sfeir Bridge. Soldiers on the vehicles opened fire at both sides of the road and injured a passerby. In the morning, stores were found to be riddled with bullets. This "show" that took place in a location by this army unit that was more than 200 meters far from the place where the protests had taken place.
