Riots erupt in Lebanon after designation of Hezbollah's Mikati as PM

Riots erupt in Lebanon after designation of Hezbollah's Mikati as PM

2011-01-26 00:12:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIRUT, LEBANON (BNO NEWS) -- Riots and protests on Tuesday erupted after Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman designated Najib Mikati as Prime Minsiter designate, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Many demonstrators have been injured in Tripoli, Qebba, Zahle and Wata Al-Mousaytbeh regions. Lebanese Army has been deployed to the areas to disperse protesters.

In the Bar-Elias region in Zahle, protesters set barricades on fire by using tires. The protest erupted into gunfire causing the injury of one person who was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

The main road that connects Tripoli with Menieh-Akkar was blocked by Sunnites protesters who burned tires and blocked the access. Another protester was hurt due to gun shots.

Anjar inhabitants blocked the Sham road next to Akramiyeh entrance. The crossroad towards Kaskas and Tayyounehw as also blocked with burning tires by demonstrators as well as the road in Baqqar, Qebba.

Two demonstrators were also injured during protests in Wata Al-Mousaytbeh region. Lebanese soldiers contained the rioters and disperse them. Massive security operations have been deployed to the areas where protests are underway.

On Monday, President Suleiman designated Makiti as PM designate. Makiti is backed by the Hezbollah Shia Islamist group. The protests were staged against Hezbollah's growing political power.

At about 2:00 p.m. local time, Mikati arrived to the Baabda presidential palace for a tripartite meeting with President Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri. After the meeting Mikati said that parliamentary consultations are scheduled to begin on Thursday to constitute a new cabinet.

Former Prime Saad Hariri called for calm due to the ongoing riots and demonstrations and assured that Lebanon can only be ruled by consensus. A rally in support for Hariri began as crowds gathered at Souq Khan Triangle in Arqoub.

"You have the right to express your opinion regarding the current crisis, but within the limits of mutual respect. We are all citizens of this country, and we all want to coexist together and respect each other's viewpoints, without ceding our principles and constants," said Hariri.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-26