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Tuesday, July 19, 2005 

1 person dies as Lebanese Forces take to the streets

One man has died in Beirut and several others have been injured as supporters of the Lebanese Forces took to the streets of Beirut to celebrate the release of their leader Samir Jaja. He had been serving 4 life sentences for a series of high-profile political murders.

Some armed men were arrested when the army came out to quell the violence.

The Martyrs' Square protest officially ended today when LF supporters took down the last tents. They remained in the square - months after everyone else left - because they wanted Jaja to be released. Everyone else was campaigning for Syrian troops to leave.

Jaja supported the Israeli occupation of his country, and fought fellow Christians. He is alleged to have killed the son of former Christian President Suleiman Franjieh. He fought a bloody battle with Christian rival Michel Aoun in 1990 to take control of the Christian areas. He even waged war against his colleague Ellie Hobeika to take control of his Lebanese Forces militia.

But he did agree to the Taef Accord which ended the Civil War - Michel Aoun was the only politician in Lebanon's confusing patchwork to reject it.

Aoun might have been against Syria but at least he stood for princples while others changed their positions depending on the political wind.

Hey, SNW, could you tell me your opinion if civil war is looming in Lebanon; given first Hariri, then other political figures, then journalists, is sectarian violence looming once again?

P.S. Here's my own blog, if you're interested:
http://www.mepolitiks.blogspot.com/

I'm looking for readers... don't be afraid to comment!

SO much for peaceful protests...

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About me

  • Written by sasa
  • From Damascus, Syria
  • From Damascus to London via Beirut. Based in and out of the central Damascene hamlet of Saroujah. News and feelings from the streets every day. I'm talking rubbish? Leave a comment. Welcome to the information democracy. See below for info about this site.
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