Lebanon woke up Tuesday to spiraling riots by the Hizbullah-led opposition in an effort to enforce a general strike aimed at toppling Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's majority government.
Thick black smoke billowed from blazing rubber tires in Beirut, east and south Lebanon as members of the opposition tried to block traffic at key road intersections.

Despite that, children penetrated the smoke screens covering their faces with masks and heading to schools in Beirut as well as cities and towns of east and south Lebanon.

Thousands of motorists waited in cars in determination to make it to work as army troops reopened the main road linking the eastern Jizzine district with the provincial capital of Sidon.

A bunch of youngsters wearing black headbands ran away as the troops picked the blazing tires off the road. Motorists blew horns in jubilation and kids were seen clapping and chanting as their bus headed to school.

At least three people were injured in the northern town of Byblos (Jbeil) when they tried to stop members of the opposition Free Patriotic Movement from blocking the road by setting up fire to rubber tires.
On the coastal highway north of Beirut at the Christian town of Jal el-Dib, opposition activists mobbed a fire engine and forced it to retreat. On the mountain road at Antelias, the very few motorists maneuvered their way around burning tires to pass through. One got out of his car and kicked away a burning tire to clear a path.

In the Beirut commercial district of Mar Elias, opposition activists used burning tires to block a column of army armored personnel carriers from deploying in the area.

The strike was called by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other opposition leaders. But Saniora and his pro-government supporters urged all Lebanese to ignore the call.

The turnout Tuesday has become a test of strength between the government and Hizbullah-led opposition. Although both leaders sought to avoid violence, tension in the streets between their supporters was already high even before dawn.

The strike, which was backed by Lebanon's labor union, has deepened divisions among Lebanese. But banking associations and business leaders have urged employees to report to work.

The planned strike came two days before the opening in Paris Thursday of an international donors' conference for Lebanon.

The opposition has also said the grants and loans -- which local analysts set at around $5 billion -- would only increase the national debt and further weaken the economy. The summer war between Hizbullah and Israel deepened Lebanon's economic woes.(Naharnet-AP)

Look at what these losers are doing....
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/_42483357_supporter.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/_42483309_soldiers_afp.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/_42483307_smoke_afp.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/_42483303_billow_afp.jpg

BBC news website

TRIPOLI, Lebanon, Jan 23 (Reuters) - One government supporter was killed and four wounded in a gunfight with opposition followers in northern Lebanon on Tuesday, security sources said.

They said members of the pro-government Future movement and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) exchanged fire in the village of Halba during nationwide protests by the opposition to topple Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

REUTERS

:omg: Why dont they just STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(:(:(:(:(:(

here is some more sad photos :(

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r461957078.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r861225720.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r1146123901.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r1337958206.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r1789660638.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r2671200868.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/Jamie_Y/r3266544834.jpg

damn Tayyar and Hezbollah they are soooooooooooooooo FUCKED UP

retards. how long have this been going on now?

since 6 am lebanon time i think

hezbollah really show they care for democarcy ......sigh

I still dont see how burning tires does anything. weird people

I rekon all there doing is ruining the enviroment. well Hezbollah are dumb go figure

LEBANON'S pro-Syrian opposition paralysed the country in a nationwide strike on today, with activists blocking roads, setting tyres ablaze and disrupting air traffic in the latest show of force aimed at bringing down the Western-backed Government.



Police said six people were wounded by gunfire in mainly Christian areas as fears grew that confrontations could erupt between followers of the rival camps in a country still bearing the scars of the 1975-1990 civil war.

Troops and security forces were out on the streets for the one-day general strike which has been denounced by the Government as a "coup attempt" by the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Thick columns of smoke rose over the capital and other cities as demonstrators blocked roads by burning tyres and old cars, and spreading sand and rubble.

Some protestors lay down in streets to block traffic, while many shops and other businesses were closed.

Militants blocked main roads across the country, cutting access to Beirut airport, in an escalation of the nearly two-month protest that has crippled the administration of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

Troops and security forces watched the demonstrators from a distance, mostly without interceding. In some cases, troops moved in to reopen roads after the demonstrators left.

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh denounced what he called an "anti-government coup" and accused the opposition of wanting to "impose its strike by force".

The strike comes just two days before an international donors' conference in Paris for Lebanon, which is still reeling from the economic impact of last summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Druze MP Akram Shehayyeb, a member of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, said "the army has to carry out its duty... because if it remains neutral, there will be a confrontation among the people."

"This has nothing to do with democracy or freedom. This has been transformed into a coup d'etat. It is a revolt in every sense of the word," said Samir Geagea, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces.

Former MP Fares Sahed, a main figure in the anti-Syrian camp, also urged government forces "not to participate in this blatant coup d'etat."

"If the security forces continue to fail to carry out their duty, people will go down and open the roads by themselves," he said.

Meanwhile, police said six people were wounded by gunshots in separate incidents in various regions, including four supporters of Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun.

Witnesses said gunmen opened fire on opposition militants trying to block roads in the port of Byblos and a village in the northern region of Koura.

Siniora and other leaders of the anti-Syrian camp urged the people to ignore the general strike, and accused the opposition of trying to sabotage the donors' conference on Thursday.

The nationwide general strike was the first major escalation by the opposition, led by fundamentalist Shiite Muslim party Hezbollah, since its supporters began a sit-in outside government offices in Beirut last December 1.

The opposition wants to replace Siniora's Government, which took office after elections that followed the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005, with a national unity cabinet in which it would have a minority veto.

A source at Beirut international airport said that eight flights were cancelled because roads leading to the area were blocked by militants.

"Eight flights from or to Cairo, Muscat, France, Kuwait, Bahrain, Frankfurt and Qatar have been cancelled," the source said.

"Flights are still arriving, and passengers from two flights from Dubai and Amman are still in the airport. They cannot leave because the road is closed."

Mr Hamadeh said the army had reopened the highway leading to Syria "and is working in order to reopen all roads, as nobody can close the roads to Lebanon."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21107495-1702,00.html

I was going to travel to Lebanon this weekend!!!!!!!

http://www.anikaos.com/anime_animated_gifs/pucca_love/images/pucca_garu_34.gif

BEIRUT - Several Arab and international airlines suspended flights to Beirut on Tuesday after opposition protesters blocked off the road to Lebanon’s only civilian airport, sources at the facility said.


The airport had remained operational despite the protest but few workers had showed up and passengers were unable to get there or to leave. The national flag carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) made no immediate announcement on whether it would suspend operations or not.

Protesters block off only road to Beirut airport

BEIRUT, (Reuters) - Dozens of Lebanese protesters blocked off the only road leading to Beirut's international airport with rubble and burning tyres at the start of a general strike called by the opposition on Tuesday, witnesses said.

They said other protesters cut off roads in several streets in central Beirut, its mainly Shi'ite southern suburb and the southern and northern entrences of the capital.

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Opposition protesters paralyzed Lebanon on Tuesday by burning tires and cars at major thoroughfares in the capital and its approaches to enforce a general strike that aims to topple the Western-backed government.

Clustering in small groups to man the blazing roadblocks, opposition supporters escalated their nearly two-month protest. Commuters were stranded and an eerie silence hung over many commercial districts.

Scattered violence was reported involving stone-throwing, fistfights and gunshots. Police said 14 people sustained gunshot wounds in disturbances between opposition supporters and pro-government activists in central and northern Lebanon. Michel Aoun, a senior opposition leader, told Al-Arabiya television that seven of the wounded were opposition members.

Several people were injured in scuffles in neighborhoods of Beirut, Lebanon's capital, as well as in central, eastern and northern Lebanon. (Watch a "significant escalation" in the protests )

Police and troops deployed in the thousands across the country worked to open roads, sometimes negotiating with protesters, but they refrained from using force. In some instances, the military separated the two opposing sides as they who scuffled and exchanged insults and stones. Other times the military charged the crowds, managing to open some roads.

Troops brandishing automatic rifles and batons kept hundreds of people from each side separated and away from motorists, and made a few arrests on the coastal highway north of Beirut near the Christian port city of Jounieh. Shots were fired in the air, apparently by security forces, to disperse the crowds.

Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and other opposition leaders called the strike that was backed by labor unions. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his supporters urged Lebanese to ignore the call, a move endorsed by banking associations and business leaders.

Soldiers and firefighters moved in to remove the obstacles, but black clouds could be seen billowing into the air around the capital and on major highways in testament to their limited success.

Witness accounts and television footage suggest that the opposition had shut down many neighborhoods and suburbs of Beirut, as well as areas around the country. But Beirut Mayor Abdel-Munim Ariss put on a brave face, telling Al-Arabiya the city was functioning normally.

Many workers stayed home, either in support of the strike or simply fearing violence. Some schools which had earlier said they were open sent mobile text messages to parents announcing closures because of the unrest.

Blazing roadblocks cut off the road to Beirut international airport and the highway linking Beirut with the mountains and the road to Damascus, the Syrian capital.

Aviation officials said the country's only international airport was operating as normal, albeit with fewer staff.

The director general of Civil Aviation, Hamdi Shawq, told Al-Arabiya that the airport was working, but passengers were having difficulty reaching and leaving it by road.

Five flights arrived at the airport and six others left, but another seven flights were canceled.

Government officials described the disturbances as an attempted coup.

"It is one of the chapters of the putsch," Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said of the opposition action.

"This will fail as in the past, and the legitimate government of Lebanon will remain steadfast," he told Al-Arabiya television. In another television interview, he called the protesters "thugs."

Another Cabinet minister, Ahmed Fatfat, expressed concern that there would be more violence between the rival sides.

"The opposition is attempting a coup by force ... This is not a strike. This is military action, a true aggression, and I'm afraid this could develop into clashes between citizens," Fatfat, the youth and sports minister, told Al-Arabiya.

The strike came two days before Saniora and his economic team seek financial aid for Lebanon at an international donors' conference in Paris. The opposition has also said the grants and loans -- which local analysts set at around US$5 billion (euro3.1 billion) -- would only increase the national debt and further weaken the economy, hard hit by the summer war between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israel.

A Saniora aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the prime minister was still in Beirut following the developments, contrary to earlier media reports that he had left for France.

The strike has deepened the existing political divisions. The anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, made up of mostly Sunni Muslims, Druse and Christians, backs Saniora. The opposition is led by the pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, and includes also some Druse and Christians.

The opposition has been camped out in front of the prime minister's office in downtown Beirut and staged several protests to press its demands since Dec. 1. Troops have been deployed in central Beirut for weeks to keep order. But the action has largely been peaceful.

Nasrallah urged supporters late Monday to participate in an "effective and powerful manner" in the strike. He reiterated the demand by Hezbollah and its allies for a veto-wielding share of the Cabinet -- a request that Saniora has rejected.

Hours earlier, Saniora criticized Hezbollah's tactics, saying the Iranian and Syrian backed group wanted to give the world "a disturbing picture of Lebanon."

This is worse than anything Israel has ever done....

Hizballah attacked a lady trying to go to work by smashing her windshield while she was driving. But they should learn not to mess with a Lebanese woman, because she ran over 2 of the rioters and put them in the hospital. Good thing she escaped.

Another Hizballah member shot dead one March 14 man and another is critically wounded.

Hizballah and FPM are terrorizing Lebanese across the country shooting at anyone who tries to go to work or school.


more updates as I get them (Im watching LBC)...

I was watching Future tv news and a Muslim Sheikh was talking about what happened to him while he was coming back from his early morning pray. Huzbullah people didnt let him take the shortcut to reach his house. They told him to turn around and take another road. The Sheikh refused as insisted to let him pass.. He told them that he is a Sheikh and everyone knew him... After minutes of him refusing one of the guys threw gasoline and put fire on his engine car side. He threw himself out of the car as he was affraid it can explode... Then someone came to defend him then the Sheikh entered the car and was going to run away as Huzbulla people started throwing rocks at his car!!

What the hell?? Who do they think they are!!!!! A little respect is appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!! :ohno:

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8129/r3465715706dy.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7716/r13659353888oz.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6949/r28385291466du.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6848/r30676086377fw.jpg <-- look at the street - they are using the stones !!
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3965/r8322331280vb.jpg

:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:
:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:
:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:
:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:
:omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg:
:omg::omg::omg:

This is terrible! All these parties should stop these uncivilised acts against each other!

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2641/captxpk10601231314midea4qa.jpg
http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/3540/20070123t060244450x321u2wg.jpg
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7962/captbei11201231313midea4xt.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7351/r13025658773zm.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2991/r29436137690im.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7342/r24632284825lz.jpg
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4723/l23256596kp.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9317/r34844224089ak.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1125/captsgekzu14230107180647qm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6643/r8045669718ta.jpg

^^ http://www.anikaos.com/anime_animated_gifs/pucca_love/images/pucca_garu_34.gif

Is it really too hard of a concept for those idiots to grasp that there will be another election coming up eventually or do they not understand that? Sure, they want a better gov't for Lebanon [/SARCASM], they're hurting the country more than what they're doing could ever hurt it.... it's almost like they WANT another civil war :ohno: Why doesn't the army just be aggressive with the tire fires and all, put them out with water cannons right in front of the opposition people, and if things turn sour, just turn the water cannons on the people themselves. The sit-in was one thing, and a strike is another, but what they're doing is way too far :bash: All Lebanese with any practical sense at all know what they're doing is bad, it's a shame they even call themselves Lebanese (although we know that a lot of them came over on buses). I agree that the army needs to become more aggressive, prevent clashes between the people, stop the attacks on the people driving to work, going to school etc... to show that this will not be tolerated. >(

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/WORLD/meast/01/23/lebanon.protests.ap/story.leb.tue.afp.gi.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/WORLD/meast/01/23/lebanon.protests.ap/story.throw.afp.gi.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/WORLD/meast/01/23/lebanon.protests.ap/story.cars.afp.gi.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/WORLD/meast/01/23/lebanon.protests.ap/story.soldiers.afp.gi.jpg

Here's your answer for democracy
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4831/859379722kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9665/366677007a9816becc4o5je.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Everyone knows they dont want democracy, because with democracy they will lose power. All of this was ordered by Assad, he promised that he will "bring Lebanon down over our heads" and that is what he is doing now. If he cant have us he will destroy us.

Well, after a long day, again they are losers... All free Lebanese should not be worried by these recent events because they cannot topple the democratic government. Let this be clear!

Amal MP Pledges More Escalation
Amal MP Ali Khreis threatened that the protest carried out by the opposition Tuesday is "part of a series. Other steps would follow."
Khreis said in a statement "things are not over. We are waiting for what the opposition leadership would decide in the coming hours."

He added that Premier Fouad Saniora's majority government "should understand that the Lebanese people do not support it."

The Hizbullah-led opposition has been trying since Dec. 1 to topple the Saniora government that is backed by the March 14 parliamentary majority

source: http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/CD6EDCAB3385E349C225726C0048B2F6?OpenDocument

oh my, those pictures are really sad. It seems like an attempted coup!!

Do you guys think that Hezbollah will win this 'war'?

lol,they lost this "war" again,as nareg. said...they r bunch of losers.lebanon will go on and on,and those losers wioll go to the trash 'where they belong'

Here's your answer for democracy
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4831/859379722kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9665/366677007a9816becc4o5je.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

how can they breath !

^^ Everyone knows they dont want democracy, because with democracy they will lose power. All of this was ordered by Assad, he promised that he will "bring Lebanon down over our heads" and that is what he is doing now. If he cant have us he will destroy us.

I know i was being sarcastic, sorry forgot the '' ''' lol. Oh and that picture with the Grand Habtoor hotel, jeez its a pretty tall tower eh!

^^ Everyone knows they dont want democracy, because with democracy they will lose power. All of this was ordered by Assad, he promised that he will "bring Lebanon down over our heads" and that is what he is doing now. If he cant have us he will destroy us.

he also said he will make Lebanon into a Blazing Inferno

I know i was being sarcastic, sorry forgot the '' ''' lol. Oh and that picture with the Grand Habtoor hotel, jeez its a pretty tall tower eh!

yes,Grand habtoor looks so tall in that pic.

Here u can see Ahrafieh tower covered with green.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9955/ashrafiehtowerstrike1xl.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide02.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide03.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide05.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide06.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide08.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide09.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide04.jpg

http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide01.jpg

Anyways guys,this news is so yesterday,it was last day of strike,,no strike for today,so MOVE ON :)

yea forget about past, look forward to future. move on as hassoun says

lol sorry guys :crazy:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide04.jpg



^^sorry if this may offend you guys, maybe you will think that i have nothing else on my mind but women
BUT


DAMN SHES HOT!!:master: :drool:

lol,mahdi :D loooooooooooooooool
:lol: :lol:

i am free to dreaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmm
:bowtie:

This is so fucked up...

^^sorry if this may offend you guys, maybe you will think that i have nothing else on my mind but women
BUT


DAMN SHES HOT!!:master: :drool:

She might be hot, but her brain is fucked up, so I have no interest in her...

heyy mann, if thats what you sayy....so be it
but i stand at my words:D

lol,u little prick :D

naaa maan dont sayy that! SHE IS!?!? is she not??
im just trying to add a little funnn...
Coommooon! forget the politicall issues !:D

naaa maan dont sayy that! SHE IS!?!? is she not??
im just trying to add a little funnn...
Coommooon! forget the politicall issues !:D

There is plenty of other nice fish in the sea. Smarter ones too...

lol, agreed, my baad man my baad:s

There is plenty of other nice fish in the sea. Smarter ones too...

now if there is still some after the oil spill, lool jk :nuts:

i forgot, all fish is hallal!^^

lebanese fish?:D?? Hallal i presume? ;)

*edit* oops, i forgot, all fish is halal

lol,mahdi??did u listen to haifa's new album for kids?????? the song 'NAUGHTY' :D u r that kid :D

She might be hot, but her brain is fucked up, so I have no interest in her...

Actually I dont think she is hot at all, she looks like trailor trash and yes she is mentally ill like her leader. These thugs should all be arrested or deported to Syria where they belong.

Actually I dont think she is hot at all, she looks like trailor trash and yes she is mentally ill like her leader. These thugs should all be arrested or deported to Syria where they belong.

:shocked:
what type of taste do YOU have ??.......

lol,mahdi??did u listen to haifa's new album for kids?????? the song 'NAUGHTY' :D u r that kid :D

HELL YES i did hear itttttt!!!!!

LOL ur the prickk :D
jk/z bro

This is so freakin' disgusting and pathetic! I had not had a chance to get on web until now or see any news until now and my bloold was just boiling after seeing all these terrible pictures. How stupid are these people destroying public and private property and threatening innocent people. It's really the worst news I have seen or read about in quite some time.
I saw some pictures on Yahoo news showing people with their suitcases walking through the roads which were on fire either on their way to the airport or from the airport and I just felt so miserable seeing what they had to go through. Then another picture showed the empty Beirut International Airport and all the flights that were cancelled, truly sad and depressing...
I don't think I can find any other word other than disgusted and depressed at this whole situation.

I HOPE this is all over but now I think we can see what they meant by "peaceful" protests....

Hope everyone is doing ok wherever you may be..

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide06.jpg




http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/23/world/23lebanon_slide01.jpg

Can someone please explain to me WHY these poor people's cars are being destroyed???? WHILE the army stands there and does nothing to stop it???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW Khayam (and others) do you understand why we called them NAWAR???!

And even Israel didnt cause this much smoke over Beirut...the opposition thugs are no better, both are terrorists.

We all should have listened to Olmert when he said he was taking care of our problem for us... too bad the idiot failed.

yea i was going to ask that too, why is it so?^^

Well,Beirut! it's not that simple,we don't need olmert to do our job,,sometimes i feel that it's really our job..i mean we lebanese liviong abroad are mostly anti-syrian and so anti-hizbullah,we won't we all come back and live in lebanon then hizbullah and syria supporters will be really a minority and weak.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/179/36708606433f9bfccb0o9ps.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7240/3674375481f6f67fdedo1ra.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5166/367410003df74233c0eo8fd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6730/36743544840eb9f655ao3eb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it looks like a war zone ! btw the Achrafieh
looks nice

Can someone please explain to me WHY these poor people's cars are being destroyed???? WHILE the army stands there and does nothing to stop it???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOW Khayam (and others) do you understand why we called them NAWAR???!

And even Israel didnt cause this much smoke over Beirut...the opposition thugs are no better, both are terrorists.

We all should have listened to Olmert when he said he was taking care of our problem for us... too bad the idiot failed.


There monsters

attack in the streets of beirut

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-ZXYUi3HvRM

Oh God.. Help our Lebanon...

attack in the streets of beirut

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-ZXYUi3HvRM

lol those girls cracked me up lol every other word "ya 3adra" lol nashro 7areemon!
so F-ing pathetic!!!

Is it just me or do those girls in the vid seem pretty amused by the riots ?

Gunbattle resumes in northern Lebanese city

BEIRUT (AP) — Pro- and anti-government factions clashed for a second day in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday, a day after violence nationwide claimed three lives and injured more than 170 people.
Tripoli, the country's second largest city, saw some of the heaviest fighting on Tuesday, when a general strike called by the Hezbollah-led opposition sparked clashes with government supporters in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

The violence gave a frightening glance into the turmoil that could result from the long power struggle between pro-Iranian Hezbollah and the U.S.-backed govenrment of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. In many places, including Tripoli, the clashes took on a sectarian tone, a deep concern in this fragile nation of multiple communities.

The fighting broke out Wednesday in Tripoli during the funeral of one of two men killed a day, witnesses said. As about 2,000 people headed for the cemetery in the Tabbaneh Sunni Muslim neighborhood, some in the crowd opened fire in the air from automatic rifles in a traditional sign of mourning.

Gunmen on an overlooking hill in the rival neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen — a stronghold of the Alawites, a Shiite Muslim offshoot sect — opened fire, sending the mourners in frenzy to escape from the area.

A gunbattle ensued, according to the witnesses and the security officials, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. It involved automatic rifle fire and at least two grenades. Two people were wounded in the legs, police said.

Shops quickly shuttered and people fled indoors to seek safety before the shooting died down half an hour later.

Late Tuesday, Hezbollah called an end to the general strike that sparked the day's clashes but warned that more protests could follow. Across the country Wednesday, a tense calm prevailed as cleaners swept smoldering car tires and bulldozers removed debris and other obstacles from major highways, put up by opposition protesters during the strike.

Many schools, banks and shops that had closed Tuesday during the strike reopened Wednesday after the opposition suspended the walkout.

Saniora flew to France to attend an international donors' conference aimed at raising billions of dollars in aid for rebuilding the devastation caused by last summer's Israel-Hezbollah war.

The road to the airport, closed by burning tires and earthen barricades that Hezbollah supporters set up, was reopened by the Lebanese army shortly after midnight Tuesday. International flights resumed Wednesday morning, enabling the several hundred passengers stranded in the terminal to head to their destinations.

Tuesday's violence was the worst escalation of the long standoff between the government and Hezbollah and its allies. The opposition is demanding the removal of Saniora's administration and the formation of a new Cabinet that would give Hezbollah and its allies more power.

The opposition has been holding a permanent sit-in outside Saniora's office to pressure him to step down, but the premier has refused. Tuesday's unrest served as a stark warning from Hezbollah that it could dramatically step up the pressure.

There are widespread fears that the conflict could spiral out of control and enflame tensions between Lebanon's communities.

The country's Sunni Muslims largely support Saniora, while Shiites back Hezbollah. Christians are divided, with most behind the government but a significant sector joining the opposition.

On Wednesdsay, commuters enjoyed lighter traffic than usual as the drove by still-smoldering tires that street cleaners had pushed to the roadside. The roads from Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, were reopened to traffic Wednesday but were still littered with debris, rocks, traces of burned tires and sand barricades.

Police, in a final toll of the trouble, reported that three people were killed and 173 injured. Of the 173, 48 sustained gunshot wounds and the rest resulted from blows from sticks or stones. Most of the lightly injured were treated on the spot or at emergency rooms and released.

Tuesday's disturbance began after the Hezbollah-led opposition and labor unions called for a general strike that was rejected by the government, its political supporters and business leaders.

Opposition supporters took to the streets, to enforce the strike by putting up barricades, mostly of burning car tires. Troops intervened and government supporters trying to reopen roads clashed with the opposition in some areas.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights

In the Syrian News Papers they said the Strikes was a Major Sucusse and Pro-Goverment supporters were told to go around and shot down the protesters dear god thats a stuffed up news paper

and Hassan nassrahlah what ever how u spell his name said that they were Capable on the first day to over throw the goverment .......much lies can this news paper say

Protesters assault reporter and his children

Daily Star staff
Thursday, January 25, 2007


BEIRUT: The National News Agency correspondent in Baalbek, Morshed Dandash, was injured - like several other journalists and reporters - in clashes that erupted during the opposition strike on Tuesday. Dandash told The Daily Star on Wednesday that he was assaulted while working at Baalbek's western entrance.

"We thought we would be kidnapped," said Dandash, who was accompanied by his children Yara, 21, and Ramy, 17.

"We want to kill you," he quoted the protesters as saying.

The family was hit with stones, sticks and even firearms, leaving the two children in need of medical care.

"We were transported to Dar al-Amal Hospital ... I am fine but I transported my kids to another hospital for fear of being struck again," he said.

Dandash said Hizbullah officials vowed to open investigation into the incident and he thanked Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, security officials and religious figures for showing concern. - The Daily Star

source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=78924


Nasrallah says he can topple government whenever he wants
By Rym Ghazal
Daily Star staff
Thursday, January 25, 2007



BEIRUT: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday that the opposition was holding back its efforts to bring down Premier Fouad Siniora's government for the sake of civil peace, but his main Christian ally promised "more surprises" in the days to come.

"The opposition has the political, popular and organizational strength to bring down the unconstitutional government tomorrow or the day after," Nasrallah added.

"What has so far prevented the fall of this 'clique' that is clinging to power is not international support but the patriotic feelings of the opposition and its desire to preserve civil peace."

"We are not an occupying force in Lebanon," he said. "We are above all these accusations and divisive statements. This is our country, just like it is everyone else's."

Nasrallah's comments came after his ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, promised "more surprises" in the coming days, saying every action by the anti-government forces would depend on the reaction of the government.

In a news conference held at his Rabieh residence Wednesday, Aoun warned the pro-government forces: "You can't imagine what we have in store."

This came as opposing factions clashed for a second day in the North Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday, leaving two wounded people.

Tripoli, the country's second largest city, saw some of the heaviest fighting on Tuesday during the general strike called by the Hizbullah-led opposition.

The fighting broke out Wednesday in Tripoli during the funeral of one of two men killed a day earlier, witnesses said. As some 2,000 government supporters headed for the cemetery in the Sunni neighborhood of Tabbaneh, some mourners fired assault rifles in the air in a traditional sign of mourning.

Gunmen on an overlooking hill in the rival neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen - a stronghold of the pro-opposition Alawites, a Shiite offshoot sect - opened fire, sending many mourners into a panic to escape the area.

A battle ensued, involving automatic-rifle fire and the tossing of at least two grenades, according to witnesses and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

But despite the clashes, the anti-government campaign is set to continue, with pledges by opposition leaders to further escalate the protest until they bring down the government.

Speaking of Tuesday's clashes and blockades, Aoun claimed he had "personally called it off in the evening to prevent Christian strife."

"We did not want further clashes to erupt among Lebanon's Christians," he said.

According to Aoun, blocking traffic with blazing roadblocks to force the resignation of Siniora was a "legal" action.

"We did not attack people or property," said Aoun, "unlike Lebanese Forces [LF] militiamen who came down armed with guns and looking for blood."

He accused the bodyguards of Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation chief Pierre Dagher of being among the armed men who clashed with the FPM.

Aoun said seven of his supporters suffered bullet wounds during clashes with the LF.

Dagher slammed Aoun's accusations, denying LBC's involvement in the incident.

Clashes erupted all throughout Lebanon Tuesday, with the more serious ones occurring in the Christian neighborhoods between rival Christian parties and no clashes reported in the Hizbullah-controlled areas.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb

The FPM leader accused the LF of trying to establish "a militia rule" in Lebanon by attacking his followers.

"What kind of a government condemns the burning of tires but not the deadly attacks by armed men?" said Aoun.

"Men from the LF were at the roadblocks even before the army itself," he added.

Attacking Siniora, Aoun bestowed a new title on the premier's government, saying that "in addition to an unconstitutional government, it is now also a criminal government."

Despite the clashes, Aoun declared the general strike "a success" and estimated that about 90 percent of Beirut had observed the protest.

Aoun was also one of the few politicians to praise the army, which came under fire by the March 14 camp for not keeping roads open and for not preventing the deadly clashes that claimed three lives Tuesday.

"The army was sandwiched, it couldn't really do anything," he said.

The Army Command Wednesday released a statement in which it thanked and commended the Lebanese Army's role in the general strike on Tuesday.

"Despite the unfortunate set of events on Tuesday, your great efforts and sacrifices prevented the situation from getting out of control," said the statement.

"The army was working under extremely sensitive circumstances to protect the safety of the Lebanese citizens and their private properties," it added.

"Several people took advantage of the strained situation and used personal weapons and violent tactics which led to the death and injury of several citizens and troops," it said.

Meanwhile, Lebanese political sources said Saudi Arabia and Iran, backers of the main rivals in Lebanon's political crisis, are negotiating a deal to end the standoff.

They said Prince Bandar bin Sultan held talks with senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in Tehran to try to reach an agreement both the government and the opposition would accept.

The Lebanese sources did not give many details on the proposed deal but one source said it covered formation of a unity government and an understanding on a UN-backed international court.

The source said if there was an agreement in Tehran, the Saudis would present an initiative to resolve the crisis at an international aid conference for Lebanon in Paris.

The head of the Future parliamentary bloc, MP Saad Hariri, slammed the opposition Wednesday, saying the March 14 Forces "will not allow some forces to restore the tutelage of the Syrian regime in Lebanon."

In a statement Wednesday, Hariri said the opposition was "protecting the tutelage regime, hampering the creation of an international tribunal [to try suspects in former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination], canceling the Paris III conference and preventing the implementation of UN Resolution 1701."

"The legitimate and constitutional power will assume its national responsibilities no matter how they escalate the situations," he said. - With agencies

source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=78932

Supporters question loyalties toward Hezbollah

By SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI




BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — After a Hezbollah-led protest sparked widespread violence across Lebanon, there were whispers of discontent Wednesday among some supporters that the Shiite militant group’s strategy is pushing Lebanon too far toward instability.

“I never thought they would behave in such a way,” said one Shiite woman, Nasra Jaafar, a 29-year-old accountant, referring to Tuesday’s protests, which left three people dead, injured more than 170 and wreaked havoc on roads and highways around the country.

“I was a supporter. Before, (Hezbollah leaders) acted in a more transparent way. But I am very much against what they did yesterday — destroying roads, traffic lights and everything else,” said Jaafar.

Such feelings suggest a disconnect between some Shiites and Hezbollah’s leadership, which has warned of more protests to come in their drive to topple the U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

It is not known how deep the discontent goes — some disillusioned Hezbollah backers in Beirut’s southern Shiite suburbs refused to give their names for fear of reprisals.

The group has enjoyed overwhelming support among Shiites, particularly after its summer war with Israel, and much of that sympathy likely remains. Jaafar and others said they still back Hezbollah’s goals if not its methods.

But Tuesday’s turmoil clearly shook many Lebanese. It began as a nationwide strike called by Hezbollah and its allies, but turned into clashes with government supporters when protesters set up barricades of burning tires and cars on roads in Beirut and across the country.

The clashes quickly took on a sectarian tone in some areas, with Shiites and Sunnis fighting — a nightmare scenario in this nation that fought a bloody 15-year civil war that pitted Christians against Muslims. On Wednesday, gunbattles erupted between Sunni Muslims and Alawites — members of a Shiite offshoot sect — in the northern city of Tripoli, where two people were killed in similar clashes Tuesday.

However, Tuesday’s heaviest clashes were between rival Christian parties. In another area, clashes occurred between Shiites and Christians. Sunnis largely back Saniora, while Shiites support Hezbollah and Christians are divided.

Hezbollah’s planning for the confrontation began far earlier at the grassroots level — in mosques run by the movement.

At one Hezbollah mosque in Beirut’s Shiite southern suburbs about 10 days ago, a cleric told selected worshippers they should start collecting tires for burning.

“They said it’s a religious duty to cripple the country,” said a 33-year-old resident of the suburb who was at the mosque. He refused to give his name, saying he feared reprisals against his family if identified.

He said his sympathy for Hezbollah “died yesterday. They take advantage of our religious loyalties ... but turn the streets into military zones.”

Since Tuesday’s protests, local Hezbollah officials have told selected groups of participants to prepare themselves for more intensified civil disobedience in the next few days, said the resident, who was among those approached.

He said the intensified campaign was to come before Monday’s Shiite Muslim ceremonies of Ashoura, which marks the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the most revered Shiite saints.

He said local Hezbollah officials — in mosque prayer sermons and local assembly halls, which are not open to the outside media — have been stirring up followers with warnings of what will happen if Saniora’s government is not forced out.

Preachers in mosques in the suburbs caution worshippers that if America — Saniora’s ally — is allowed to have total control over Lebanon, Shiites will not be permitted to pray or fast during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

They also warn against the government’s plan to allow an international tribunal to try suspects in the February 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri. Hezbollah officials tell followers the tribunal will be used to punish Hezbollah for its attacks against U.S. targets in the 1980s, including the 1983 suicide bombings of the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marines headquarters in Beirut.

“The tribunal is a sword dangling over our heads,” the resident quoted a young cleric as telling his audience two days ago at the Qa’em Mosque, a main Hezbollah mosque in the southern suburb of Hay Abyadh.

The cleric warned the tribunal would go after Hezbollah’s leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, telling followers, “The Americans will take their revenge for the Marines’ bombing.”

Hezbollah and its allies are demanding Saniora’s government be replaced by a national unity government in which the opposition would have veto power to block major policies, such as the international tribunal. In public, Hezbollah says it does not reject the tribunal but wants discussions on it before approval.

The opposition has been holding a constant sit-in outside Saniora’s offices in downtown Beirut to pressure him to go, but the prime minister has refused to step aside.

Hezbollah leaders “keep asking people to go into the streets, but it never gets anywhere. They’ve been staging a sit-in for 50-60 days, putting people in disarray with no end in sight,” Jaafar said.

Several residents of the southern suburbs said some of those participating in the sit-in were paid to do so — up to $45 for 24 hours. One 39-year-old resident said he took part in the downtown vigil for a week until he discovered it had “turned into a business venture.” He, like others, refused to be identified fearing reprisals.

Hind Mohammed, a 52-year-old Shiite housewife, said she still supports Hezbollah in principle, but opposed Tuesday’s protests.

“It was wrong what they did — a successful strike doesn’t end in loss of life and so much devastation,” she said.

source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/01/24/3439278-ap.html

Nasrallah and Aoun are so retarted

People are fleeing Beirut, but where are they going???

http://www.bloggingbeirut.com/uploads/traffic25.jpg

4 people killed today, 100s wounded...


http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070125/i/r3824691057.jpg?x=380&y=229&sig=gdpkljzKxaYiIKk.e1B5eg--

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/ap_photo/20070125/all/l2329724.jpg

People are fleeing Beirut, but where are they going???

http://www.bloggingbeirut.com/uploads/traffic25.jpg

my parents left to Amman, Jordan at my cousins if that answers ur question...

^^ oh wow thats pretty drastic, I was thinking people were going to a different city but the chaos is wide-spread so that wouldnt make sense. I think the mountains would be the safest and most people are going to Zahleh, etc.

^^ Zahle is not a good choice, its divided between Geagea and Aoun

no place in lebanon will be good eg the town im from its LF/SSNP

It has been nearly 3 hours and a half since the curfew was imposed, the motorway is empty, few cars. I see a military checkpoint by the Lebanese Army.

:ohno:

I don't think it is the responsibility of Hezbollah only and am a Sunni.

Both sides are wrong.

This is a sign of a Hezbollah led democracy I guess? I hope and pray we never see what these people are capable of in a position of actual power. It's very clear as was said before, Hezbollah wants another Iraq and the BBC by calling this "sectarian violence" and neglecting to include the fact that this is between pro and anti gov't supporters is NOT helping anything!!!! (stupid journalists)

It's a shame how this beautiful country is so divided. The Lebanese people have been blessed with one of the most beautiful spots on Earth, and it's really sad how all these political parties have turned everyone against each other.

^^ There is more to it than that. Everyone isnt turned against each other, that is a major misconception. There are only 2 sides to this dispute and it is NOT sectarian.

Two snippers arrested: a syrian and a palestinian
Source: mustaqbal

Two snippers arrested: a syrian and a palestinian
Source: mustaqbal

Thank you!!! That REALLY needs to be more publicized!

i read about that on the LF fourms

I think it should also be noted the Palestinian terrorists from Jund al Sham opened fire on the Lebanese Army!

^^ but wasnt that a completely different scenario, I heard the Leb Army installed army checkpoints (which I dont blame them) close to the camp, which is why the Jund al Sham fired at them, but I dont know where the Syrian fits in the picture (from that little feud)

^^ No I was talking about something different from Lebgurl.

^^ ohh so there WAS actually another shooting with them?

yes jnoud el sham opened fire on the army (not the first time, it happened once before last year and one soldier was hit or killed .. i cant remember)


Nadini, this might answer ur question
Jund al-Sham (Arabic جند الشام, "The Greater Syrian Army") is believed to have first appeared in Afghanistan in 1999, the group was established by Syrians and Palestinians with links Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,[1] who went on to found al-Qaida in Iraq and subsequently killed by a US airstrike. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jund_al-Sham

^^ yes I know, news just came that there was snipers across the capital on the rooftop, lbc news is on right now, the curfew is lifted and lets see what happens, this is tense

Isn't Hezbollah getting more and more "popular" in Lebanon?

^^ who told you that?

Anyway, if you don't stop fighting, I won't visit your beautiful country and you will miss the money I'm going to spend - which will cause your economy to collapse. :cool:

^^ yes I know, news just came that there was snipers across the capital on the rooftop, lbc news is on right now, the curfew is lifted and lets see what happens, this is tense

ok u better have a DAMN good excuse for making me run downstairs and back up here in freezing cold weather only to find Sanioura's interview on TV :P wat r they saying?

^^ lol first they showed Beirut in the morning (which looked calm and hardly anyone), then i went to get strawberries and i heard something about snipers, i ran to the tv and i saw them showing a video of guys on rooftops, (ohhhh my strawberries lool) and then there was the useless lahoud (that was quoted by the news anchor), saying nothing but the old dumb things he says as usual, and now theres an interview of some guy talking about the palestinian issue and them installing checkpoints, and how they're searching the people by looking at id's and if they have weapons

Poor Lebanon but aren't there foreign military troops stationed in Lebanon at the moment? (europeans?)

^^ in the south of the country, tambien ellos no tienen las armas para proteger las personas en la ciudad

^^ lol first they showed Beirut in the morning (which looked calm and hardly anyone), then i went to get strawberries and i heard something about snipers, i ran to the tv and i saw them showing a video of guys on rooftops, (ohhhh my strawberries lool) and then there was the useless lahoud (that was quoted by the news anchor), saying nothing but the old dumb things he says as usual, and now theres an interview of some guy talking about the palestinian issue and them installing checkpoints, and how they're searching the people by looking at id's and if they have weapons

OMG IM EATING KIWIS, PINEAPPLE AND STRAWBERRIES!!! anycrap ... maybe it was like a newsflash thing .. but Sanioura ripped Nasrallah a new one from the short bit I saw. I'm glad to see him get thicker skin. He blamed him for everything (altho didnt actually name him)
and yea Chalaco, there are UNIFIL troops in south lebanon

New song about the lebanese zo3ama:
http://myweb.usf.edu/~delazhar/Track01.m4a

hmmmmmm I wonder why the FPM covered his eyes .....
http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/displayimage.php?album=953&pos=0

http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/albums/070126_showdown/p01_20070126_pic1.full.jpg

Ok thats not red cross .. who the hell are they and why are they dressed in military clothes? dife3 madani?
http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/albums/070126_showdown/r3084476689.jpg

My cousin who goes to BAU left one hour before the clashes started. It started in the cafeteria...

This should b their new campaign poster .. reapers of disaster

http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/albums/070123_Edrab_Mou3arada/normal_tn_Image007.jpg

or this
http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/albums/070123_Edrab_Mou3arada/normal_tn_mozahara_039.jpg

or this
http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/albums/070123_Edrab_Mou3arada/normal_DSC_1926.JPG

^^ why cant they just jump in the fire, looks just like the color they love to wear!!
In any case, this is a good video hosted by this site http://www.lebaneselobby.org/ (Lebanon Wake up), good little documentary

another sunni extremist thread. I am glad this is far in Lebanon. Why doesn't the stupid government unite? Why because they only want a sunni govt? well wake up coz lebanon is majority shia, if you dont like it go join wahhabi saudi arabia cult. Root cause of violence: SUNNI EXTREMISM!!!!! I hope these sunnis stay in the middle east. Their values are corrupted, they wanna take over the world. In Sydney, they teach people to be "martyrs" for Islam and that Australia is the enemy and all these extreme ideologies. They make all muslims look bad, when its only ever sunni preachers. I can imagine what they are doing in Lebanon. I feel sorry for the shia, christians suffering, I know how bad sunni extremism can be, we pay the price in Sydney coz of the sunnis here.

^^ Excuse me, but what does your reply have to do with the thread???

another sunni extremist thread. I am glad this is far in Lebanon. Why doesn't the stupid government unite? Why because they only want a sunni govt? well wake up coz lebanon is majority shia, if you dont like it go join wahhabi saudi arabia cult. Root cause of violence: SUNNI EXTREMISM!!!!! I hope these sunnis stay in the middle east. Their values are corrupted, they wanna take over the world. In Sydney, they teach people to be "martyrs" for Islam and that Australia is the enemy and all these extreme ideologies. They make all muslims look bad, when its only ever sunni preachers. I can imagine what they are doing in Lebanon. I feel sorry for the shia, christians suffering, I know how bad sunni extremism can be, we pay the price in Sydney coz of the sunnis here.

You are so ignorant. :ohno:

New song about the lebanese zo3ama:
http://myweb.usf.edu/~delazhar/Track01.m4a

What exactly does "zo3ama" mean?

^^ our leaders, or politicians

Snipers near Arab University 25/01/2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X4BQuoXXW4

Did I understand her right? She says that the sniper is from the future block or did I misunderstand her? - It will not wonder me. The video is from Al Manar tv.

here is another propaganda video:

Arab university riots - Future TV lies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUmd6NCHyQI

^^ Both videos are BS, al Manar is a joke.

How are u so sure... ^^

It's not like its hard to believe =S

another sunni extremist thread. I am glad this is far in Lebanon. Why doesn't the stupid government unite? Why because they only want a sunni govt? well wake up coz lebanon is majority shia, if you dont like it go join wahhabi saudi arabia cult. Root cause of violence: SUNNI EXTREMISM!!!!! I hope these sunnis stay in the middle east. Their values are corrupted, they wanna take over the world. In Sydney, they teach people to be "martyrs" for Islam and that Australia is the enemy and all these extreme ideologies. They make all muslims look bad, when its only ever sunni preachers. I can imagine what they are doing in Lebanon. I feel sorry for the shia, christians suffering, I know how bad sunni extremism can be, we pay the price in Sydney coz of the sunnis here.

wrong country ... extermists in lebanon are Shia ..

I have a question then: I'm assuming some of you are sunni... Please answer it appropriately.
Is there some sort of teaching in the sunni religion that says they must not share or integrate and should not unite and remain amongst each other only? Im serious. I don't just mean unite and respect shia - i mean ALL communities and societies?
And question 2: Don't you think its time the sunni followers stand up to the extremist leaders who live in our societies and teach our children extremist ideologies?
I shouldn't generalise and say all sunni, coz i know some good ones who condemn this madness, but it feels like sunni community doesn't do much on their own behalf to ease tension, to unite, to open their minds and hearts, to adjust their values.

^^ What are you talking about? There are no sunni extremists leaders in Lebanon, other than the Palestinian and Syrian extremists which are ALLIES of the shia extremists.

maybe he's talking about the A7bach in Tripoli and Doniyeh region but they're not very popular (i hope so lol)!!

^^ im sunni ... and im hoping my avatar should clear the answer up for u.
plz go and research the difference between shia and sunni doctrine (because there is none) ... I dunno where this deep-rooted love for shias that u have came from, but im not gonna try and turn u against shias (or muslims in general) .. because at the end of the day the fact that ur saying u think shia doctrine is peaceful is the same as u saying that sunni doctrine is peaceful .. so YAY!!! one more thing, the situation in lebanon isn't religion-based, its politics based:

1. on the one hand u have pro-democracy sunni, druze and most christians (march 14th):
Democratic Renewal Movement
Democratic Left: a little bit of all religions, mainly christian
Future Movement: mainly sunni, but no declared religion and actually has plenty of shia members
Lebanese Forces: christian maronite
National Liberal Party: mainly maronite
Phalangist Party: all christian
Progressive Socialist Party: Jumblatt/ mainly druze
Qornet Shehwan gathering: christians

2. and on the other u have anti-democracy, pro-god knows wat people who are responsible for the burning and road blocks and strikes (march 8th):
Hezbulla: Shia
Tanzim el Nasre: Sunnis in the south
Amal: shia but not as powerful
FPM: mainly christian and followers of Aoun
Marada: christian maronite (mainly)


I hope this helps

maybe he's talking about the A7bach in Tripoli and Doniyeh region but they're not very popular (i hope so lol)!!

no Ramzi, the insurgency in iraq is mainly sunni and so the assumption now is that all insurgents/extremists are sunnis

^^^ I know it is political, as per Hezbollah, he is not only representing shias, its all Lebanese and as per hezbollah the only one defending Lebanon in Israel. Its about unity, something sunnis all over the world, not just Lebanon loathe.
My examples are Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin laden, Sadaam Hussein, Jamal Islamiyah, Sunni insurgents in Iraq, Sunnis in the west who preach that everyone and everything is the enemy. I want to know why they all happen to be sunni? What has the world done to the sunnis that they hate everything that is not sunni? I know its not all sunnis, but it tends to be majority sunni. Im from Sydney, which is in Australia, and muslims are always being portrayed negatively here, however it is not all muslims, it is only sunni muslims that give muslims a bad name. I live amongst them so i know how extreme they can be. I just want to know what the root cause is for their behaviour. I can only go by what I see in Australia, America and Iraq, Sunni extremism, I can imagine that behaviour is continuing also in Lebanon, this is why the opposition calls for unity. How can we reach out to sunni muslims to unite with all factions of society?

^^^ I know it is political, as per Hezbollah, he is not only representing shias, its all Lebanese and as per hezbollah the only one defending Lebanon in Israel. Its about unity, something sunnis all over the world, not just Lebanon loathe.
My examples are Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin laden, Sadaam Hussein, Jamal Islamiyah, Sunni insurgents in Iraq, Sunnis in the west who preach that everyone and everything is the enemy. I want to know why they all happen to be sunni? What has the world done to the sunnis that they hate everything that is not sunni? I know its not all sunnis, but it tends to be majority sunni. Im from Sydney, which is in Australia, and muslims are always being portrayed negatively here, however it is not all muslims, it is only sunni muslims that give muslims a bad name. I live amongst them so i know how extreme they can be. I just want to know what the root cause is for their behaviour. I can only go by what I see in Australia, America and Iraq, Sunni extremism, I can imagine that behaviour is continuing also in Lebanon, this is why the opposition calls for unity. How can we reach out to sunni muslims to unite with all factions of society?

the march 14th in lebanon have been asking for unity ever since march 8th walked out of parliament ... but thats not ur question ... to address the sunnis in lebanon (being one of like two lebanese sunnis in this forum) I can tell u that they're not the dividers ... but at the same time, they're not gonna get beat upside the head and accept it. im still unclear as to how the LEBANESE sunnis fit into ur formula .. can u plz clarify that for me?

as for the gulf, u couldnt compare lebanese sunnis to gulf sunnis or even north african sunnis. many of those sunni-dominated nations dont hide their hate for shias .. and dont even consider them muslims ... and this stems from them not having many if any shias in their country. Up until 2 years ago, there was no such thing as a sunni/shia division in lebanon, and the current division is a result of sunnis distancing themselves from extremism. im really uncomfortable clumping all lebanese sunnis together since they tend to cover all spectrums.

as for hezbolla being lebanon's protectors .. im sorry but I dont c 2000+ civilians (with TOO MANY children), devastated economy, political turmoil and leveled infrastructure as an even price or a fair qualification for protection. its easier to say they're protectors when ur sister isn't in beirut by herself stuck under fire and screaming on the phone. They put up a fight yea, but unfortunately their interests weren't to protect lebanon, but to gain political ground. and as for being dividers, if they're so all-encompasing and loving, why wont they allow sunnis and christians and druze into their organization/army? can protectors of lebanon only b shia?

where u from btw? It seems like u live in australia, but where in the middle east do u descend from?

Very well said Lebgurl, this guy seems to really know nothing about Lebanon, just taking advantage of the situation to further his anti-Sunni agenda.

Hizballah is not a defender for all Lebanese, they dont care for Lebanese or else they wouldn't start a war and they would respect the authority of our central government and army. They (and the Christian FPM) are responsible for dividing the country by not respecting the unity following the assassination of Hariri. They turned Muslims against Muslims and Christians against Christians and destroyed the unity that flourished on March 14th 2005.

the march 14th in lebanon have been asking for unity ever since march 8th walked out of parliament ... but thats not ur question ... to address the sunnis in lebanon (being one of like two lebanese sunnis in this forum) I can tell u that they're not the dividers ... but at the same time, they're not gonna get beat upside the head and accept it. im still unclear as to how the LEBANESE sunnis fit into ur formula .. can u plz clarify that for me?

as for the gulf, u couldnt compare lebanese sunnis to gulf sunnis or even north african sunnis. many of those sunni-dominated nations dont hide their hate for shias .. and dont even consider them muslims ... and this stems from them not having many if any shias in their country. Up until 2 years ago, there was no such thing as a sunni/shia division in lebanon, and the current division is a result of sunnis distancing themselves from extremism. im really uncomfortable clumping all lebanese sunnis together since they tend to cover all spectrums.

as for hezbolla being lebanon's protectors .. im sorry but I dont c 2000+ civilians (with TOO MANY children), devastated economy, political turmoil and leveled infrastructure as an even price or a fair qualification for protection. its easier to say they're protectors when ur sister isn't in beirut by herself stuck under fire and screaming on the phone. They put up a fight yea, but unfortunately their interests weren't to protect lebanon, but to gain political ground. and as for being dividers, if they're so all-encompasing and loving, why wont they allow sunnis and christians and druze into their organization/army? can protectors of lebanon only b shia?

where u from btw? It seems like u live in australia, but where in the middle east do u descend from?


Sunnis support Siniora because he is sunni. Don't tell me they want a democracy, untrue. They don't care what siniora decides to do with the country, the point is that he is sunni and they will support him. You want a democracy? Have a democracy with the shia and christians? Of course not. Another exmple of sunni extremism. I live in Sydney amongst sunnis. They are always making headlines for their extremist ideologies and teachings. They are considered part of the lower socio-economic status living in the western suburbs. They ALWAYS clash with other cultures and Australians.
The shias live in the middle-class, richer areas toward the city and its south. They integrate well. They have good community relations. They would like unity amongst all muslims, but ofcourse as we see in lebanon that is not what sunni people want. The sunnis here are the supporters of Sadaam Hussein... why? because he is sunni. Regardless of whom he tortured, he is still sunni. Now, I know its not ALL sunnis, but it is the majority. It needs to change. Sunnis need learn that the world is not out to get them, and that uniting is in their best interest. If they can't even unite in Lebanon with their muslim and Lebanese counterparts, how on earth are they going to unite with other cultures in the west??? They are giving us a VERY bad name. Can't you see how symbolic everything in lebanon is of sunni values and ideals?? Of course not, because I assume you are not living in the west.

I am second generation Australian. In Lebanon my grandparents are from Beirut, the south, and they are descendants of Europe. For Muslims in the west, the struggle in Lebanon highlights our domestic struggles with the sunnis here and in America, to cleanse them of extremism. To unite them with society, not just with the shias, but with the Australians and Americans and other cultures. To enrich them and help them become friendlier people. The sunni dominated areas in Australia are considered HIGHLY dangerous and unsafe. Whereas the shia areas are considered expensive, touristic and enjoy friendly community relations. The sunnis are not good representatives as well, its because their values are extreme and disunited. Its not about who I support in Lebanon, because I would rather support someone neutral, however i totally feel the struggle of the opposition fighting for unity and a REAL democracy, not a sunni democracy. Its just so frustrating, because they will not yield in to unity, all they want is sunni dominated everything. I refuse to pay the price for someone else's extreme ideologies; however I would rather work towards helping the sunnis than to abandon them, this is why i previously asked what the root cause is for sunnis anger of the world and struggle to maintain power everywhere???? Some Aussies call sunnism a cult and not a religion... do you see what I am talking about, how is this good?? In America their fight is bigger against the sunni muslims than Australia's one is.

Jayme refrain yourself for saying such comments

did someone edit my post ???

^^ yes I did Jayme

well he is soooo annoying

Maybe this thread should be just :lock: as riots are over and it's off topic now

Austraarabian if all your gonna do is create tension even in this forum with your generalisation, you're wrong. If you're not gonna contribute to this forum in a decent way and respect other peoples religion, then get out. Stop blaming everything on the Sunnis and blame urself for igniting a debate saying Sunnis are extremist, when they are not. There's good and bad in all religions, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc.., if u want us to be so united, stop being the root of debates when you speak to your Sunni mates.

well said, Mzzzz KRisttieeee!!! agreeddd its good yout the mod here
ottay?




lol...ling ling

Well said Nadini, this person only wants to create conflict and clearly knows nothing about Lebanese politics.

I am not locking this thread because of this person, I will not give him the pleasure. I am closing this thread because I agree with Lirtain, this is old news now as the riots are over and I dont want this thread to become an area for racist and offensive remarks. If you want to engage in peaceful debate, there is a thread already for that.


:lock: