Lebanon's military declared an overnight curfew Thursday in an attempt to quell the clashes that broke out near Beirut's Arab University. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged his followers to obey the curfew.
The fighting began inside the university and quickly spilled into the streets of the surrounding neighborhood. Supporters of the pro-western government and those who support the Hezbollah-led opposition fought with sticks and stones. Rioters smashed nearby cars and burned tires. Army troops were called in to restore order.
Political leaders appealed for calm.
Earlier Thursday, an international conference on aid to Lebanon raised almost $8 billion for the struggling nation.
The Paris conference was also meant to increase support for Lebanon's government in its power struggle with pro-Syrian Hezbollah.
French President Jacques Chirac, who hosted the conference, said Lebanon needs international support "more than ever" after last year's war between Israel and Shi'ite Hezbollah that destroyed much of Lebanon's infrastructure.
On Tuesday, a Hezbollah-led strike paralyzed Lebanon as the opposition tried to force Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to resign.
Lebanese police blamed the violence surrounding Tuesday's strike for the deaths of three people and injuries to 170 others. - VOA News
Posted January 25th, 2007 by Dinka
