Lebanon police tear-gas anti-PM protest at funeral

LEBANON: Lebanese police clashed with protesters trying to storm the prime minister’s office in Beirut, amid calls for him to quit after a top security official was killed by a car bomb blamed on Syria. Officers fired into the air and used tear gas to repel the demonstrators in the hours following the funeral on Sunday of General Wissam al-Hassan. The event had been billed as an opportunity to protest against Syrian meddling in Lebanon but the mood quickly turned to anger at Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose government is dominated by pro-Syria parties. More than 15 members of the security forces were injured in the clashes with protesters outside the Serail, the prime minister’s office, according to a statement on Mikati’s website.

During funeral orations for the slain police intelligence chief, angry former premier Fuad Siniora called on Mikati to resign, adding his voice to many others since Hassan and two others were killed and 126 wounded on Friday.

Siniora, a leading member of ex-premier Saad Hariri’s opposition bloc, said the government was responsible for the death of Hassan and his driver and should go.

After Siniora spoke, a man mounted the podium and cried: “Enough speeches, let’s charge the Serail.”

AFP