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| Syria crisis hits Beirut - live updates | Syria crisis hits Beirut - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.32am: Lebanon: Sunni anger in Lebanon is playing into the hands of thos those who want to create instability in the country to turn the attention away from Syria, writes Mustapha on his blog Beirut Spring. | |
| Their protests, even if cathartic, are creating three big headaches for their community: | |
| • They are angering the rest of the Lebanese by inconveniencing them and reminding them of the war. Sunnis are coming across as irresponsible and dangerous. | |
| • They are not achieving anything. Even if the point was to establish deterrence (to make others think twice before upsetting the Sunnis), it's not working. It's just a loud and costly tantrum. | |
| • They are establishing a reputation that the Sunnis are an excitable bunch that can easily be provoked ... | |
| Their anger is being wasted on pointless tantrums and they're displaying an alarming lack of cool-headedness and long-term strategic planning. If they really care about their future as a sect (whether that is a worthwhile aspiration deserves a post of its own), they need to grow some skin, stop burning stuff and start thinking. | |
| 10.18am: Lebanon: "Do not push us to create a Free Syrian Army in Lebanon", a man says in this al-Jazeera report, on the aftermath of the suspected army assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Wahid, a Sunni Muslim cleric, and Muhammed Hussein Miraib, both members of the anti-Syria March 14 alliance. | |
| Reporter Zeina Khodr says: | |
| The bottom line is this: Syria yet again is a dividing issue in this country. The rival groups are divided in their support and opposition to the Syrian government. And this is where the fear lies," Khodr said on Monday. | |
| "The very fact that the Lebanese army is at the centre of the conflict makes the situation more dangerous. Because the army has always been seen as the neutral institution, the only institution that can hold this politically unstable country together. | |
| 9.53am: Syria: The shadowy al-Nusra Front, has claimed responsibility for Saturday's suicide bombing in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor which killed nine people. | |
| Reuters reports: | |
The al-Nusra Front said it was behind the attack on Saturday which targeted military installations in Deir Ezzor. The authenticity of the statement could not immediately be verified. | |
| "There was a limit to the ferocity of the dogs of the regime in Deir Ezzor at which they had to be punished, so the soldiers of the al-Nusra front undertook this mission," read the statement on an Islamist web forum. | |
| "The blessed operations will continue until the land of Syria is purified from the filth of the Nusayris (Alawites) and the Sunnis are relieved from their oppression." | |
| The claim should be treated with caution. The al-Nusra Front has previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Damascus and Aleppo. But it also issued a denial that it claimed responsibility for the latest attack in Damascus. | |
| The group, whose full name means "the support front for the people of Syria", has emerged during the revolt, which began as a peaceful protest movement but has become increasingly militarised as rebels fight back against a government crackdown. | |
| 9.15am: Yemen: Al-Jazeera's Jane Ferguson, in Sana'a, says 50 people were killed in the suicide attack. She said the death toll was likely to increase as the attack occurred in a packed crowd. | 9.15am: Yemen: Al-Jazeera's Jane Ferguson, in Sana'a, says 50 people were killed in the suicide attack. She said the death toll was likely to increase as the attack occurred in a packed crowd. |
| The blast occurred outside the presidential palace during preparations for tomorrow's parade. Most of those killed were soldiers, she said. | The blast occurred outside the presidential palace during preparations for tomorrow's parade. Most of those killed were soldiers, she said. |
| 9.06am: Yemen: Scores of people have been killed in a suicide bombing against a military parade in the capital Sana'a, AP reports, citing a government official. | 9.06am: Yemen: Scores of people have been killed in a suicide bombing against a military parade in the capital Sana'a, AP reports, citing a government official. |
| The parade was scheduled to mark Yemen's national day and the new president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was due to attend. | The parade was scheduled to mark Yemen's national day and the new president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was due to attend. |
| The BBC reports: | The BBC reports: |
| The bomber, who was wearing military uniform, blew himself up among the soldiers as they marched through Sabin Square, near the presidential palace. | The bomber, who was wearing military uniform, blew himself up among the soldiers as they marched through Sabin Square, near the presidential palace. |
| Witnesses said remains of the victims were scattered across the square, where large military parades are often held. Ambulances rushed to the area to take survivors to hospital. | Witnesses said remains of the victims were scattered across the square, where large military parades are often held. Ambulances rushed to the area to take survivors to hospital. |
| 8.58am: Lebanon: Beirut's Daily Star says the Lebanese Army and security forces have begun patrolling the Tariq al-Jadideh after overnight clashes. | 8.58am: Lebanon: Beirut's Daily Star says the Lebanese Army and security forces have begun patrolling the Tariq al-Jadideh after overnight clashes. |
| It claims three people were killed in the violence. | It claims three people were killed in the violence. |
| The fighting erupted between Future Movement supporters and their rivals in the Arab Movement Party headed by Shaker Berjaoui, an ally of the Syrian government. | The fighting erupted between Future Movement supporters and their rivals in the Arab Movement Party headed by Shaker Berjaoui, an ally of the Syrian government. |
| Two of the three fatalities were identified as Mohammad Yusef Boutah, 31 and Ali Mohammad Sharab, 30. | Two of the three fatalities were identified as Mohammad Yusef Boutah, 31 and Ali Mohammad Sharab, 30. |
| Security sources told The Daily Star that clashes erupted when Berjaoui began preparing the Municipal Stadium for May 25 Liberation Day, which commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000. | Security sources told The Daily Star that clashes erupted when Berjaoui began preparing the Municipal Stadium for May 25 Liberation Day, which commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon in 2000. |
| They also said that residents of the neighbourhood have vowed not to allow Berjaoui to return to the area. | They also said that residents of the neighbourhood have vowed not to allow Berjaoui to return to the area. |
| 8.37am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. | 8.37am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. |
| Here's a roundup of the latest developments: | Here's a roundup of the latest developments: |
| Lebanon | Lebanon |
| • At least two people have been killed and 18 injured in clashes overnight in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The clashes, between Sunni pro- and anti-Syrian groups, followed the shooting dead on Sunday of two anti-Syrian sheikhs, the BBC reports. | • At least two people have been killed and 18 injured in clashes overnight in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The clashes, between Sunni pro- and anti-Syrian groups, followed the shooting dead on Sunday of two anti-Syrian sheikhs, the BBC reports. |
| Syria | Syria |
| • A roadside bomb exploded in Douma, north-east of Damascus, as senior UN officials toured the area, blowing off the front of a parked vehicle but causing no casualties. Visiting UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous and Robert Mood, the chief of UN observers in Syria, were 150 metres away, along with accompanying journalists, when the blast went off engulfing a Toyota pickup car in flames and smoke. | • A roadside bomb exploded in Douma, north-east of Damascus, as senior UN officials toured the area, blowing off the front of a parked vehicle but causing no casualties. Visiting UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous and Robert Mood, the chief of UN observers in Syria, were 150 metres away, along with accompanying journalists, when the blast went off engulfing a Toyota pickup car in flames and smoke. |
| • The government has denied oppositions claims that rebels killed six senior officials including Pesident Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat. State media described the allegations as "categorically baseless" and quoted three of those reportedly killed to refute the claims. | • The government has denied oppositions claims that rebels killed six senior officials including Pesident Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat. State media described the allegations as "categorically baseless" and quoted three of those reportedly killed to refute the claims. |
| • International envoy Kofi Annan is due to visit Syria within the next 10 days, according to foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi. | • International envoy Kofi Annan is due to visit Syria within the next 10 days, according to foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi. |
| UN Envoy Mr Koffi Annan will be visiting Syria by the end of the month to discuss implementation of UN Plan #Syria #UN | UN Envoy Mr Koffi Annan will be visiting Syria by the end of the month to discuss implementation of UN Plan #Syria #UN |
| — Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 20, 2012 | — Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 20, 2012 |
| • Syria watcher Joshua Landis questions opposition claims that bomb attacks against intelligence headquarters were set off by the military to discredit the opposition. | • Syria watcher Joshua Landis questions opposition claims that bomb attacks against intelligence headquarters were set off by the military to discredit the opposition. |
| This does not make sense for many reasons. | This does not make sense for many reasons. |
| 1. Why would the mukhabarat kill itself? No mater how evil one presumes Syria's intelligence agents are, it remains unlikely that they would kill themselves in such great numbers. The willingness of Western news agencies to repeat these opposition claims demonstrates that Westerners are just as prone to conspiracy theories as are Arabs. All it takes to believe in conspiracy theories is to demonize your enemies to the point that you can believe they will carry out any operation in order to advance their devilish aims. | 1. Why would the mukhabarat kill itself? No mater how evil one presumes Syria's intelligence agents are, it remains unlikely that they would kill themselves in such great numbers. The willingness of Western news agencies to repeat these opposition claims demonstrates that Westerners are just as prone to conspiracy theories as are Arabs. All it takes to believe in conspiracy theories is to demonize your enemies to the point that you can believe they will carry out any operation in order to advance their devilish aims. |
| 2. It makes sense for the opposition to set off car bombs in down town areas. Classic stage-two insurgency tactics call for terrorist acts in public places to make the regime look weak and to provoke it to lash out in rage, killing innocent people and provoking more and more neutrals to hate the regime and side with the insurgency. Targeting intelligence headquarters is smart as it accomplishes all of these opposition goals. | 2. It makes sense for the opposition to set off car bombs in down town areas. Classic stage-two insurgency tactics call for terrorist acts in public places to make the regime look weak and to provoke it to lash out in rage, killing innocent people and provoking more and more neutrals to hate the regime and side with the insurgency. Targeting intelligence headquarters is smart as it accomplishes all of these opposition goals. |
| Bahrain | Bahrain |
| • Human Rights Watch has urged the UN to investigate Bahrain's "deplorable human rights record". Joe Stork, the group's deputy Middle East director, said: "Countries should ask Bahrain why it hasn't released scores of prisoners whose only crimes were to call for greater political right | • Human Rights Watch has urged the UN to investigate Bahrain's "deplorable human rights record". Joe Stork, the group's deputy Middle East director, said: "Countries should ask Bahrain why it hasn't released scores of prisoners whose only crimes were to call for greater political right |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Revolutionary forces would suffer a huge setback if frontrunner Amr Moussa wins the presidential election, argues the former head of al-Jazeer Wadah Khanfar. | • Revolutionary forces would suffer a huge setback if frontrunner Amr Moussa wins the presidential election, argues the former head of al-Jazeer Wadah Khanfar. |
| Relations between the presidency and the parliament could become tense. Not only this, the army would continue to predominate in one form or another. That may embroil Egypt in disputes and divert it from the transition toward democracy. | Relations between the presidency and the parliament could become tense. Not only this, the army would continue to predominate in one form or another. That may embroil Egypt in disputes and divert it from the transition toward democracy. |