Posted on 05/08/2008 11:59:18 PM PDT by HAL9000
Excerpt -
BEIRUT, May 9 (Reuters) - Hezbollah gunmen took control of large areas of Beirut on Friday in a third day of fighting between the pro-Iranian group and fighters loyal to the U.S.-backed governing coalition.Security sources said at least 10 people had been killed and 20 wounded. The thud of exploding grenades and crackle of automatic gunfire echoed overnight in the worst internal strife since the 1975-90 civil war.
Gunmen loyal to Hezbollah forced the pro-government Future News television off the air on Friday, said a senior official at the Beirut station. Future News is owned by Saad al-Hariri, a leader of the governing coalition.
The security sources said Hezbollah and fighters from the allied Amal movement -- both Shi'ite groups -- had overrun offices of Hariri's Future group across the predominantly Muslim western half of Beirut.
Gunmen had also taken over the offices of Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, witnesses said. Smoke billowed from the building's windows.
~ snip ~
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Unrest Across Lebanon Enters Third Day
9:30 Hizbullah fighters control Hamra and Verdun districts, gun wars taking place at Sadat street which leads to Quraytim, Residence of Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri
9:20 am Security measures were reinforced around Walid Jumblat's Clemenceau mansion, Dar el-Fatwa and Mufti Mohammed Qabbani's residence in Talet el-Khayat.
9:15 am Ash Sharq radio, mouthpiece of al Mustaqbal movement, went off the air.
8:55 am Reports that Hizbullah gunmen are handing over to Lebanese army troops pro-government gunmen after their Beirut centers had been taken over by Hizbullah.
8:45 am Heavy deployment of Hizbullah gunmen in Beirut, particularly in Hamra, Karakol Druze, Raouche, Mulla, Talet el-Khayat, Zaidaniyeh, Ras el-Nabaa, Basta Zoqaq Blat and Nweiri, according to media reports.
8:40 am The crackle of gunfire and sporadic bursts of rocket-propelled grenade echo in Beirut.
8:35 am Reports that Al Mustaqbal newspaper building has been burnt down.
8:31 am Mulla said army troops building is now under army protection and troops should soon begin evacuating employees.
8:30 am Nadim Mulla, Future TV General Manager, said gunmen warned them through the army that they would attack building if they don't stop broadcasting.
8:00 am Future television stopped broadcasting after gunmen stormed into the building in Beirut.
more
10:00: launch rockets on the area around the house, where Hariri Qoraytem
Very vital developments - thanks for posting.
I put up an article on this topic 48 hrs ago, and it was evidently getting very serious even then. Today has been explosive.
Thanks for the updates, HAL9000...
Please keep ‘em coming — you seem to be the only person alive (with broadband) that shows any interest.....
Ike
Ping.
10:28 am An RPG hits Qoreitem palace, local media reported.10:25 am Work stopped at Beirut port.
10:20 am Saudi Arabia called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to try to halt the violence in Lebanon.
10:15 am MP Ammar Houri's residence is under army control after it was taken over by Hizbullah.
10:10 am Machine gun fire and RPGs heard around Hariri's mansion in Qoreitem.
Thank you bd476 for the ping.
Thank you hal9000 for the updates.
Funny how all this started after Mr Peanut's visit.
stepping back to May 6, 2008
Note: Photo included.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=91760
“Late-night clashes break out in and around Beirut, Bekaa Valley
Fighting brought under control by Lebanese army”
By Anthony Elghossain
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
BEIRUT:
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt is exchanging blows with Hizbullah over his recent accusation that the opposition party has been discretely monitoring Rafik Hariri International Airport and building illicit communication networks throughout Lebanon.
In a statement sent Friday to The Daily Star, Hizbullah described Jumblatt’s accusations as “fictitious police stories and nightmares,” linking the Druze chieftain’s comments to an American-led effort to “silence the resistance” in Lebanon and the region.”
A bit Off Topic, but interesting.
#
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627043886&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
May 9, 2008 7:10 | Updated May 9, 2008 7:15
“Assad rejects Israel’s demand that Syria disconnect from Iran”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Italian magazine L’Espresso that Israel’s demand that Syria cut its ties with Iran and with Hizbullah was “irrelevant” to reviving peace talks, dormant since they fell through under the leadership of several recent prime ministers.”
#
http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=syria&ID=SP192108
Special Dispatch Series - No. 1921
May 7, 2008 No. 1921
“Syrian President Assad: Syria’s Contacts with Israel Are Aimed at Establishing Common Ground for Negotiations”
#
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2009929/posts?page=311#311
11:40 am MEA announced it was suspending all outgoing and incoming flights to Beirut until midday Saturday.11:15 am MP Walid Jumblat has been evacuated from his Beirut home by army troops.
11:10 am Army troops reopened the port road which was briefly blocked at the Phoenicia Hotel area with burning tires.
11:00 am Tripoli residents blocked Maloula-Tebaneh highway with burning tires in protest of the bloody fighting in Beirut.
10:37 MPs and leaders of the March 14 alliance were summoned for an urgent meeting at Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea’s home in Maarab.
10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon.
bkmark. Thanks.
To read the complete text; please click the link below.
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Fri May 09 2008 02:04:34 GMT-0700 (PDT).
LEBANON
April 21, 2008
I spend my Time in Hamra I was going soon.. so sad such nice People..
"10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon."
” “10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon.” “
Fine, Egypt — but, Who Bells The Cat????
Here we go again.
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