General strike paralyses Beirut

From the BBC

Protesters in the Lebanese capital Beirut have set up barricades and burnt tyres in support of a one-day general strike for a rise in the minimum wage.

The city has been paralysed as roads to the airport and the main commercial district were blocked. One person was injured when a stun grenade was thrown.

The industrial action was called by Lebanon’s main trade unions and is backed by the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The country is witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war.

Lebanon has been without a head of state for five months because of a power struggle between the Western and Saudi-backed government and the opposition which is supported by Syria and Iran.

Hezbollah has been leading a campaign to unseat Prime Minister Fouad Siniora since November 2006.

Escalation fear

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for letting off the stun grenade, which was thrown at a crowd in the Mazraa area of West Beirut.

Protesters say wages have not kept up with fuel and food prices

Correspondents report widespread fears that Wednesday’s protest could escalate into a settling of accounts between the rival political blocs.

Labour unions cancelled Wednesday’s main event – a march through Beirut – a few hours before it was scheduled to take place, citing security concerns.

Tensions rose on Tuesday after the government announced it would shut down Hezbollah’s private telecommunications network.

The head of airport security was also dismissed amid allegations he had allowed Hezbollah to set up spy cameras at the airport; Hezbollah strongly denied the claim.

Unions are demanding that the government triple the minimum monthly wage, which currently stands at $200.

Prices have been rising in Lebanon, especially food and fuel, with the situation exacerbated by the weakening of the US dollar, but Finance Minister Jihad Azour has warned that big pay rises would lead to rampant inflation.

Tags: Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle east, Strike