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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| General strike paralyses Beirut | General strike paralyses Beirut |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Protesters in the Lebanese capital Beirut have set up barricades and burnt tyres in support of a one-day general strike for a rise in the minimum wage. | Protesters in the Lebanese capital Beirut have set up barricades and burnt tyres in support of a one-day general strike for a rise in the minimum wage. |
| The city has been paralysed as roads to the airport and main commercial area were blocked. Reports say rival gunmen exchanged fire in some districts. | |
| The industrial action was called by Lebanon's main trade unions and is backed by the Hezbollah-led opposition. | The industrial action was called by Lebanon's main trade unions and is backed by the Hezbollah-led opposition. |
| The country is witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war. | The country is witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war. |
| Lebanon has been without a head of state for five months because of a power struggle between the Western and Saudi-backed government and the opposition which is supported by Syria and Iran. | Lebanon has been without a head of state for five months because of a power struggle between the Western and Saudi-backed government and the opposition which is supported by Syria and Iran. |
| Hezbollah has been leading a campaign to unseat Prime Minister Fouad Siniora since November 2006. | Hezbollah has been leading a campaign to unseat Prime Minister Fouad Siniora since November 2006. |
| Escalation fear | Escalation fear |
| Pro-government supporters exchanged rifle and grenade fire with Hezbollah sympathisers in three neighbourhoods, security sources said. | |
| There no immediate word of casualties but ambulances where seen heading towards the areas. | |
| Earlier a stun grenade was detonated in a crowd in West Beirut, causing minor injuries. It was not known who threw the grenade. | |
| Protesters say wages have not kept up with fuel and food prices | Protesters say wages have not kept up with fuel and food prices |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says although this is ostensibly a workers' strike, it was a highly politicised affair reflecting the acute polarisation and tension between the government and opposition. | |
| Labour unions cancelled Wednesday's main event - a march through Beirut - a few hours before it was scheduled to take place, because of conditions along the route. | |
| Tensions rose on Tuesday after the government announced it would shut down Hezbollah's private telecommunications network. | Tensions rose on Tuesday after the government announced it would shut down Hezbollah's private telecommunications network. |
| The head of airport security was also dismissed amid allegations he had allowed Hezbollah to set up spy cameras at the airport; Hezbollah strongly denied the claim. | The head of airport security was also dismissed amid allegations he had allowed Hezbollah to set up spy cameras at the airport; Hezbollah strongly denied the claim. |
| Unions are demanding that the government triple the minimum monthly wage, which currently stands at $200. | Unions are demanding that the government triple the minimum monthly wage, which currently stands at $200. |
| Prices have been rising in Lebanon, especially food and fuel, with the situation exacerbated by the weakening of the US dollar, but Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned that big pay rises would lead to rampant inflation. | Prices have been rising in Lebanon, especially food and fuel, with the situation exacerbated by the weakening of the US dollar, but Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned that big pay rises would lead to rampant inflation. |