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Man killed in Beirut clashes

A man has been killed in clashes between rival groups in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, as supporters of the Hezbollah-led opposition alliance continue to protest against the Lebanese government.

The man, a Shia Muslim, died after being shot in the Tarik Jdideh area of west Beirut. It was not clear where the gunfire came from, witnesses said.

The clash is understood to have occurred as some Hezbollah supporters passed through the Sunni district on their way home from the sit-in protests.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported that the several other skirmishes between rival protesters were quickly put down by security forces.

Protesters are still camping in tents close to the Lebanese cabinet offices in central Beirut.

"We are not letting [the ministers] sleep, we're disturbing them with our noise. We have the resilience to stay not for one month, but a year or two," said one of the protesters.

Amid the protests, Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, arrived in Beirut to meet Lebanese officials.

Moussa said Arab countries could not afford to be bystanders.

"The stability of Lebanon and moving towards a solution that would bring about a sure future for the country is one of our concerns," he said.

"All of us are worried about the situation in Lebanon."

Dialogue sought

Government supporters, who held their own mass funeral procession following the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, a member of the Lebanese majority coalition, stayed away from central Beirut on their leaders' advice.

Walid Jumblatt, a member of the majority March 14 Forces alliance and de facto leader of Lebanon's Druze Muslim community, said: "We will be steadfast, peacefully and democratically. We are here, and when they are convinced that there is no solution except through dialogue, then welcome."

Despite the protest, the city's annual marathon went ahead. Runners used suburban roads to skirt the demonstration.

The opposition has been demanding veto power in the government, whose majority comprises politicians from Christian, Sunni Muslim and Druze parties.

Differences

Hezbollah receives financial and logistical support from Iran and Syria, while most members of the majority March 14 Forces coalition are opposed to Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Syrian troops and security pulled out of Lebanon in April 2005 following street demonstrations in the wake of the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister.

Politicians in the majority coalition say the opposition only wants to weaken the government and derail a UN tribunal that would try those suspected of involvement in the al-Hariri killing.

A preliminary UN inquiry has implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials in the killing.

Six opposition ministers resigned from the cabinet last month after talks on national unity collapsed. But the depleted government approved plans for the tribunal, sparking the latest protests.

Hezbollah supporters continue protests - USA Today
Lebanon protester shot dead after attending rally - Reuters

Labels: Berita, Lebanon, Luar Negeri