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Lebanese Protesters Riot at Funeral for Slain Official

Beirut unrest escalates amid funeral of intel chief

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 21, 2012 8:59 AM CDT

(AP) – Lebanese soldiers have fired machine guns and rifles into the air and lobbed volleys of tear gas at hundreds of angry protesters who are trying to storm the Lebanese government headquarters in Beirut. The chaotic scene in Lebanon's capital today comes in the midst of a funeral for a top intelligence official who was killed in a massive car bombing that many blame on Bashar al-Assad's regime in neighboring Syria. The protesters believe the government is too close to Syria and Damascus' ally in Lebanon, the Shiite group Hezbollah.

A man carries one corner of the Syrian revolutionary flag as well as a Lebanese national flag, as people gather in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up road blocks and cordoned...
A man carries one corner of the Syrian revolutionary flag as well as a Lebanese national flag, as people gather in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam...   (Maya Alleruzzo)
Two young Lebanese women, one draped in the national flag, wait in Martyrs' Square for the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up road blocks and cordoned off Beirut's central square Sunday, boosting security in the...
Two young Lebanese women, one draped in the national flag, wait in Martyrs' Square for the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21,...   (Maya Alleruzzo)
A Lebanese protester gestures from the top of the monument at Martyrs' Square as the crowd gathers for the funeral of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.
A Lebanese protester gestures from the top of the monument at Martyrs' Square as the crowd gathers for the funeral of Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.   (Maya Alleruzzo)
Volunteers distribute placards in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up road blocks and cordoned off Beirut's central square Sunday, boosting security in the capital ahead of a public funeral for Al-Hassan,...
Volunteers distribute placards in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up...   (Maya Alleruzzo)
Volunteers distribute placards in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up road blocks and cordoned off Beirut's central square Sunday, boosting security in the capital ahead of a public funeral for Al-Hassan,...
Volunteers distribute placards in Martyrs' Square before the funeral for the country's intelligence chief, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Lebanese forces set up...   (Maya Alleruzzo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
HANKHILL
Oct 22, 2012 9:21 AM CDT
savages!
milo7453
Oct 21, 2012 10:31 PM CDT
Newser, all Americans now know that Arab protests are caused by anti-Islam internet videos created in America...Get with the program!
Bartmaeus
Oct 21, 2012 12:28 PM CDT
Time for Humanitarian Intervention in Yemen!  http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/10/21/267980/shots-fired-at-yemeni-protestors/ O wait, they're not allied to Iran and Syria, and are not neighbour to Israel. What about Bahrain? http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/10/20/267829/bahraini-forces-attack-protesters/ Nope, also sunni allies of the al Qaida-creator, US/CIA. Never mind.

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Lebanon • Syria • car bomb • Beirut • Bashar al-Assad • Wissam al-Hassan

 
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