6 shot dead in Beirut blast probe protests
SNIPERS TARGET PROTESTERS DURING HEZBOLLAH RALLY
Armed clashes erupted in Beirut yesterday during a protest organised by Hezbollah and its allies against the lead judge probing last year’s port blast.
At least six people were killed and dozens wounded in the deadliest civil violence in Beirut since 2008. The shootings, which took place on a frontline of Lebanon’s 197590 civil war, evoked scenes reminiscent of that conflict.
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said snipers had opened fire and aimed at people’s heads. Prime Minister Najib Mikati later apologised to the Lebanese people, adding that he was informed by the army that the security situation was now in control.
Day of mourning
Mikati announced on Twitter that today would be a day of public mourning.
President Michel Aoun vowed that those responsible would be held accountable, saying in a televised speech it was “unacceptable that weapons are once more the means of communication among Lebanese rivals”.
Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, accused the Lebanese Forces (LF) of mounting the attack. The LF denied any involvement and blamed the violence on Hezbollah’s “incitement” against Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator into the port blast.
Investigation to continue
Hezbollah has led calls for Bitar’s removal, accusing him of bias. A court yesterday dismissed a legal complaint against Bitar, allowing him to resume his investigation.
During the shooting, TV stations broadcast footage of bullets bouncing off buildings and people running for cover. At a nearby school, teachers instructed infant children to lie face down on the ground with their hands on their heads.
Kuwait called on its citizens to leave Lebanon and told those wishing to travel there to wait.
Lebanon’s army yesterday said it arrested nine people, including a Syrian, after violence erupted earlier in the day in Beirut, leaving at least six killed and dozens wounded.
Coming after repeated warnings from Hezbollah and its allies that continuing Bitar’s probe would split the country, the violence may create a pretext to shut down or shelve further investigation into the blast.
Bitar has sought to question a number of senior politicians and security officials, including Hezbollah allies, suspected of negligence that led to the explosion.
Former prime minister Sa’ad Hariri said the violence was reminiscent of the civil war and “unacceptable on all levels”.
How violence erupted
Bitar is the second judge to lead the investigation. His predecessor was removed following legal challenges.
Yesterday, shortly before the planned protest, an appeals court turned down a request to remove Bitar from his post filed by two lawmakers who are defendants in the case, both of them allies of Hezbollah.
The right-wing Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) mobilised supporters on Wednesday evening after Hezbollah and Amal called for the protest at the Justice Palace.
The army said the gunfire had targeted protesters as they passed through the Teyouneh traffic circle located in an area dividing Christian and Shiite neighbourhoods. The shooting began from the Christian neighbourhood of Ain Al Remmaneh, from where the civil war was set off, before spiralling into an exchange of fire.
Local TV stations broadcast footage of bullets bouncing off buildings and people running for cover. A woman died after being hit by a bullet in her home.
At a nearby school, teachers instructed infant children to lie face down on the ground with their hands on their heads, a Reuters witness said. A lifeless body was dragged from the street by bystanders.
US urges impartial probe
The US said Lebanon’s judiciary must be allowed to investigate the port blast in an independent and impartial manner.
“The Lebanese people deserve no less and the victims and families of those lost in the port blast deserve no less,” US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said during a visit to Beirut yesterday. “Today’s unacceptable violence makes clear what the stakes are,” said Nuland, in comments echoed by the French foreign ministry.
Though none of its members have been targeted, Hezbollah has accused Bitar of conducting a politicised investigation.
These include some of its closest allies, among them senior figures in the Amal Movement who occupied ministerial posts, including former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil who said this week the path of the probe threatened to push Lebanon “towards civil strife”.