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Lebanese military calls for calm Hezbollah warns cabinet of 'war'
(about 1 hour later)
The Lebanese army has warned that its unity will be threatened if the political crisis in Beirut continues. The leader of Hezbollah has said the Lebanese government's decision to close down its private telecommunications network was a "declaration of war".
The capital has been largely paralysed by roadblocks set up by opposition supporters during a second day of protests which started as a strike. Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah warned that the move was "for the benefit of America and Israel" and vowed to "cut off the hand" that tries to dismantle it.
The leader of the opposition Hezbollah group has meanwhile said the decision to close its private telecommunications network was a "declaration of war". "We are now embarking on a totally new era," he told a news conference.
Hassan Nasrallah promised to "cut off the hand" that tries to dismantle it. Earlier, the army warned its unity was at risk if the ongoing political crisis and civil unrest in Beirut continued.
"We are now embarking on a totally new era," he told a news conference in Beirut. The capital has been largely paralysed by roadblocks set up by opposition supporters during a second day of protests which started as a strike over pay.
The decision is tantamount to a declaration of war... on the resistance and its weapons in the interest of America and Israel Hassan NasrallahLeader of Hezbollah Tensions remain high after Wednesday's clashes between Sunni and Shia gunmen and the army remains out in force in parts of the city.
The Shia factions, led by the Hezbollah movement and its allies, oppose the Western-backed government while the Sunni and Druze factions support it. The Shia factions, led by Hezbollah, oppose the Western-backed government, while the Sunni and Druze factions support it.
Sheikh Nasrallah criticised the suspension of the head of security at Beirut airport, Brig Gen Wafiq Shuqeir, because of his alleged closeness to Hezbollah. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, urged both sides "to cease immediately these riots and to reopen all roads in the country".
The government also accused him of failing to deal with a secret camera allegedly set up by Hezbollah to monitor the movement of aircraft and VIPs. "We remain gravely concerned about the potential for further escalation of the situation," UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said.
But Sheikh Nasrallah insisted Gen Shuqeir was not a member of any opposition group, merely a neutral member of the armed forces. 'New era'
Lebanon's Western-backed government declared Hezbollah's extensive fixed-line telecommunications network covering its strongholds of south and east Lebanon, and southern Beirut, illegal on Tuesday, saying it was a threat to state security.
We have the right to confront him to defend ourselves, to defend our weapons, to defend our resistance and to defend our existence Hassan NasrallahLeader of Hezbollah
Speaking at a rare televised news conference in Beirut, Sheikh Nasrallah said Hezbollah's network was its most important weapon against foreign aggressors, and warned that any attempt to dismantle it would be resisted.
"This decision is first of all a declaration of war and the launching of war by the government... against the resistance and its weapons for the benefit of America and Israel," he said.
"Whoever declares war against us and who launches a war against us even if he's our father or brother, or just a political opponent, we have the right to confront him to defend ourselves, to defend our weapons, to defend our resistance and to defend our existence."
Sheikh Nasrallah said his group's military wing, the Islamic Resistance, regarded the network as "the most important part" of its defensive measures and explained how it played a key role in its conflict with Israel in 2006.
The protests and disruption have affected all parts of the country
He demanded the government therefore rescind its decision and also reinstate the head of security at Beirut international airport, Brig Gen Wafiq Shuqeir.
The government suspects him of sympathising with Hezbollah, and accused him of failing to deal with a secret camera allegedly set up by Hezbollah in a container overlooking the main runway, to monitor the movement of aircraft and VIPs.
But Sheikh Nasrallah insisted the general was not a member of any opposition group, merely a neutral member of the armed forces.
Appeal for calmAppeal for calm
The Hezbollah leader's remarks came after the people of Beirut awoke for the second day running to find their city largely brought to a halt by roadblocks of burning tyres and bulldozed earthworks. The Hezbollah leader's remarks came after many people in Beirut awoke for the second day running to find their city largely brought to a halt by roadblocks of burning tyres and bulldozed earthworks.
The army was deployed in key thoroughfares and crossroads dividing Beirut itself from the mainly Shia southern suburbs. The army was deployed in key thoroughfares and crossroads dividing Beirut itself from the mainly Shia southern suburbs. But troops were not moved into densely built-up, heavily populated neighbourhoods nearby.
What happened in Lebanon is a rehearsal of what the small country is expected to witness over the coming days. It is the fruit of the divisions that run through the Arab world and the Middle East Jordan's al-Dustur newspaper Mid-East press alarm over strikeWhat happened in Lebanon is a rehearsal of what the small country is expected to witness over the coming days. It is the fruit of the divisions that run through the Arab world and the Middle East Jordan's al-Dustur newspaper Mid-East press alarm over strike
But troops were not moved into densely built-up, heavily populated neighbourhoods nearby, where tensions remain extremely high after Wednesday's clashes between Sunni and Shia gunmen. Many streets have been blocked off by local residents, with young men on a high state of alert, ready to defend their own neighbourhoods. About a dozen people were injured on Wednesday, mostly by stones, officials said.
Many streets are blocked off by local people, with young men on a high state of alert, ready to defend their own neighbourhoods.
Opposition supporters continued to block the roads to Beirut's international airport for a second day, leading to the cancellation of flights.Opposition supporters continued to block the roads to Beirut's international airport for a second day, leading to the cancellation of flights.
The protests and disruption also affected other parts of the country. There were clashes in the eastern Bekaa Valley, which is mainly controlled by Hezbollah, and the main motorway leading to Syria was cut, heightening Beirut's isolation. The protests and disruption also affected other parts of the country. There were clashes in the eastern Bekaa Valley, in which at least five people were wounded according to officials, and the main motorway leading to Syria was cut, heightening Beirut's isolation.
The Lebanese army command issued a call for calm, saying a "continuation of the situation... harms the unity of the military establishment". The Lebanese army command later issued a call for calm, saying a "continuation of the situation... harms the unity of the military establishment".
The main roads to the international airport are blocked by barricadesThe main roads to the international airport are blocked by barricades
In recent years, the army has been seen as one of Lebanon's most neutral institutions, but correspondents say the recent clashes could draw it into the conflict. In recent years, the army has been seen as one of Lebanon's most neutral institutions, but correspondents say the recent clashes could draw it into the conflict. The fragmentation of the army along sectarian lines in 1976 was a key moment in Lebanon's descent into civil war.
The fragmentation of the army along sectarian lines in 1976 was a key moment in Lebanon's descent into civil war. The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says that for the moment, it seems to be a tense stand-off, with everybody waiting to see if a way can be found to break the political deadlock.
For the moment, it seems to be a tense stand-off, with everybody waiting to see if a way can be found to break the political deadlock, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
It clearly would take very little to set off a conflagration that would be very hard to stop if shooting started in earnest, and blood was shed, he says.It clearly would take very little to set off a conflagration that would be very hard to stop if shooting started in earnest, and blood was shed, he says.
Ongoing crisis Lebanon is witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war and has been without a head of state for five months because of the internal power struggle.
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 the internal power struggle.
Unions, which called the general strike on Wednesday, are demanding that the government triple the minimum monthly wage, which currently stands at $200 (£102).
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.
Are you in Lebanon? Have you been affected by any of the demonstrations - or are you taking part? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Lebanon? Have you been affected by any of the demonstrations - or are you taking part? Send us your comments using the form below:
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