Hezbollah takes West Beirut as Lebanon moves toward civil war

Article and latest video of unrest in Beirut:

West Beirut now belongs to Hezbollah. In two days it gained, with military force, control over the main Sunni areas as well as others that also comprise a Christian-maronite population.

The last Sunni bastion to fall was Tarek al-Jadeedi. At that point christian leader Michel Aoun, allied with Hezbollah, was able to announce: "Today is a victory day for Lebanon"

Lebanon is mired in a long-running political standoff between feuding factions which has left the country without a president since November, when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term.

Hezbollah militants and their Shi'ite allies from the Amal group overran some predominantly Muslim districts in western Beirut in fighting yesterday. Offices linked to the governing coalition leader Saad al-Hariri and his party were the main targets.

Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah has accused the Government of declaring war on his group when it decided to shut down Hezbollah's private telecommunications network.

On Thursday, Hassan Nasrallah said the government made a "declaration of war" which he said would be confronted in "self defense."

A rocket hit the outer perimeter of majority leader Saad Hariri's house in west Beirut. "An RPG rocket hit the outer wall of the residence at around 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) but there were no injuries," said the source, who did not wish to be named.

Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal (Future) TV stopped local and cable broadcasting Friday morning after opposition gunmen sieged the station and turned it over to the Lebanese army.

Footage by member of the public at Around 2:45 pm Beirut time, Hezbullah masked gunmen can be heard in the area.



Shocking footage - A family are hiding from the gunfire - the little kid is fine and playing , until he hears the gunfire. You can really see the fear on his face.



May 9th, 2008

Tags:lebanon, nasrallah, hassan nasrallah, bejrut, beirut , beriut