It’s Saturday already, violation began on Wednesday….

Some highlights:

- Future TV and all major media belonging to Hariri family have become non-operational after militants from the opposition have burnt or occupied their major premises. However we can notice that the governement is using Al Arabiya news TV channel, which Hariri has major shares in, to broadcast their views… “The Hezbollah Coup” is the major title they use to define the events happening since May 7th. Unfortunately, this channel is an elite in promoting sectarianism. For instance, they refrain from using the phrase “opposition militants” but instead use “Shia’a militants” in order to reflect to the Arab viewers that the Shia’a are causing the perturbations in Lebanon. This is not surprising since Al Arabiya is known to have ties with the wahabiz.

- Last night, heavy clashes happened in Aley (region majorly druze) between Jumblatt and Hezbollah militants. Hezbollah was trying to take over offices belonging to the Progressive Socialist party (PSP). Total of 9 casualties (7 from Hezbollah, and 2 from PSP). However 3 Hezbollah militants were kidnapped and 2 executed later on…..

- 5 civilians were killed by a gunman during a funeral in Corniche el Mazraa for a member of the Future Movement. This gunman (from Al Saba7 family) was caught by the army and justified his actions saying he was taking revenge after some men (presumably from the Future movement) attacked one of his properties 7 days ago (before the violation have even began). He wasn’t identified to belong to any of the political parties.

- Airport road is still closed.

- Around 4 pm, Siniora had a conference insisting the government will not give up its principles and will resist any attempts to bring them down.

Siniora gave a solution for the crisis: The army will decide on the required investigation regarding the issue of the lieutenant that has ties with Hezbollah whose questioning by the government caused the begining of the clashes. The Army replied saying it will keep the lieutenant in his position at the airport until its investigations progresses with the cooperation with Hezbollah. Siniora also insisting that once this decision applied, the situation gets back as peaceful as it was before May 7th.

- The opposition was ok with the decision and asked its militants to leave the streets of Beirut…. OUFFF finally. However the opposition insisted it will continue with its protests peacefully until it gets what it wants which is :
1- Stop the Prime Minister Fouad al-Siniora order to dismantle the surveillance network at Runway 17 of Beirut Airport which the latter claim it was “illegal and unconstitutional” and which caused the events we are witnessing at the moment.
2- to have all parties sit and decide on a solution for electing a president which the pro government parties refuse to do.

 

- At night, tensions in Tripoli were increasing gradually specially in Minia.