Protesters set up camp in Beirut

02/12/2006| IslamWeb

A major demonstration is continuing in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, aimed at forcing the government to resign.

Hundreds of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have pitched camp in central Beirut near the offices of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The protesters accuse Mr Siniora of being too pro-western and anti-Syrian.

The British Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, is planning to visit Mr Siniora during the day to express her solidarity with his government.

Lebanon's government has been weakened by resignations and the assassination of a leading anti-Syrian politician.

Loudspeakers

Friday saw a mass protest in central Beirut, led by Hezbollah supporters. Demonstrators pitched tents on streets leading to the government's headquarters.

The BBC's Jon Leyne says it was the first of what could be many long nights as the demonstrators have vowed to stay until Mr Siniora's government resigns.

It is all very similar to the protests that brought Mr Siniora to power 18 months ago and curtailed Syrian influence in Lebanon, our correspondent says.

The demonstrators brought water pipes, small radios and even musical instruments for entertainment.

Amid tight security, loudspeakers blared slogans denouncing Mr Siniora.

'Intimidation'

Soldiers cordoned off the office complex with barbed wire and armored vehicles. Mr Siniora has been joined by several of his ministers.

Mr Siniora has said he will not be forced from office by mass protests and has vowed to stand firm against what he has called an attempted coup.

"Lebanon's independence is threatened and its democratic system is in danger," he said on Thursday.

The US has denounced what it described as "threats of intimidation violence" in Lebanon.

A State Department spokesman, Tom Casey, accused Syria and Iran of instigating the protests which he said were aimed at toppling the democratically-elected government.

US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton called the Hezbollah demonstration "part of the Iran-Syria inspired coup".

Under Lebanon's constitution, the death or resignation of another two ministers will automatically topple it.

Surprise moves

The opposition has promised to carry out more surprise moves to bring down the cabinet.

A Hezbollah member of parliament Ali Ammar said: "We won't leave these squares until this authority complies with the will of the majority of the people - most of whom want to escape this crisis and form a unity government."

Hezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions.

The government came to office last year in the first election held after the withdrawal of Syrian troops originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war.

Syria was forced to withdraw its military presence after massive street protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing, although Syria has denied any involvement.

The government in Beirut has also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.

Photo caption

Demonstrators pitch tents in central Beirut