Anti-government protesters block roads in Beirut

[tchunter]

Source: Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Demonstrators blocked several roads in and around Beirut with burning tires on Wednesday as part of an anti-government protest backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition, witnesses said.
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The main road leading to the capital's international airport was among routes blocked by the protesters.

In Lebanon's worst political crisis since its 1975-1990 civil war, Hezbollah has been leading a campaign against Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government since November 2006. The standoff has left Lebanon without a president for five months.

The Syrian-backed opposition had urged supporters to back a strike by Lebanon's main labor union, which is demanding higher wages.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080507/wl_nm/lebanon_strike_roads_dc

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lebanon's gov't is supported by the bush administration, and they are anti-labor. Hezbollah is supporting the unions, they may have enough sway to call a general strike and shut down southern lebanon. although no one would notice as its still rubble since Israel israel-ed it

[tchunter]

1. couldn't edit but...

i would like to put out that the headline equates "pro-labor" (they were supporting a raise wage) with "anti-government"

[Parmenion]

2. One and the Same

In this case it's the same thing. The Union has been calling for this strike for a long time, and yesterday one of the main anti-government leaders, Michel Aoun, called on the opposition forces to join this strike in an effort to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Lots of really bad things might happen today in Beirut. Already there have been reports of shootings and injuries between the Army and different groups.