Total Pageviews

Video of Lebanese Military Taking to Beirut\'s Streets

The Lebanese mlitary fanned out across Beirut to try and quell sectarian violence.

As my colleagues Neil MacFarquhar and David D. Kirkpatrick report, members of the Lebanese military took positions in Beirut on Monday aimed at removing gunmen from the street and breaking down roadblocks set up by civilians following a car bomb on Friday that killed a top security official and seven others.

In an unusual statement, military officials also asked politicians to help calm tensions between supporters of the Syrian president, Bashar Assad, and his opponents. Despite denials, the Syrian government has been widely blamed for the blast that killed the security official, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, who was viewed by Syrian opposition activists as a supporter of the armed effort to o ust President Assad.

“Tension in some areas is increasing to unprecedented levels,” read part of a statement issued by Lebanon's armed forces. “We are appealing to all leaders from all political factions to be aware about expressing their positions and trying to incite popular opinion.”

The military's statement followed overnight clashes that left at least six people dead. And, over the weekend, an angry mob attempted to storm the Beirut offices of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, prompting the military to say that it would use force, if needed, if people targeted institutions or officials.

“The last few hours have proven without a doubt that the country is going through a decisive and critical time and the level of tension in some regions is rising to unprecedented levels,” the statement said.

Among the 80 people injured in the blast on Friday was a 10-year-old girl, Jennifer Shedid, who was returning home from s chool when the bomb exploded. In an Associated Press photograph that went around the world, the child was seen, badly wounded with bloodied sneakers, as her father carried her from the wreckage. Her injuries required more than 300 stitches, according to a report by Bassem Mroue for The Associated Press. But her father reports that she will be all right.