Lebanon News Updates in ENGLISH - May 9 2008

- Reporting from Gemmayze: It's dead. Paul was closed when I passed (4 PM). Not much activity, but some places are open. Some shops were taking advantage of the lull to clean up (Olio). As usual Torino is open, so if you're in the neighborhood, or want to get out and away from the fekin TV, come down and have a bira.

- Reporting from Bir Hassan: Roads are open in most Shiite areas. Crossing from Bir Hassan to Hazmieh by car is a non-issue.

- Reporting from Corniche Beirut: The second you cross the green line - just as I made my way past the St. Georges Hotel - you're greeted with heavily armed men with automatic weapons and vests in groups, some on scooters. One large group was gathered near the entrance of La Plage in front of the Intercontinental Vendome. They don't bother you - they don't even stop to ask questions - you can ask them for directions if you'd like - they're polite i think ;) . After a brief stop at McDonald's, I made my way to a shop to buy some chips. M&Ms, Maltesers, Lay's Salted Chips, and a Sohat = 3250 LL (2 USD). As I was paying, a scooter zooms up to the store carrying two armed men. I am not sure if I am meant to feel fear / discomfort. They came in to buy some mouneh. I paid, put my stuff in a bag, and walked out nonchalantly. Got into my car and drove off into the smoke billowing from burning tires under the Marina Tower.


Sometimes a Cigar is just a Cigar - How to Watch Jumblat Speeching



- After a tense standoff, the Lebanese Army has taken over Hariri's Future Movement militia office in Tareek el Jdeedeh.

- Reporting from Downtown Beirut: The Beirut Corniche is a flashpoint. Future TV is now off air.

- Reporting from Downtown Beirut: HEAVY Gunfire can be heard from the direction of Burj El Murr. If you are attempting to cross into the Hamra avoid the seaside entry points.

- Reporting from Downtown Beirut: Gunfire is loud and clear from where I am (near the Porsche dealership). Reports of heavy gunfire in Clemenceau and Hamra (a few minutes from here).

- Reporting from Downtown Beirut: Most of the Western part of Beirut is under the control of the Opposition. Jumblat is in Clemenceau, Hariri is in Koreitem, and Saniora is in the Saray. Passage in and out of different parts of the West of Beirut is very limited, but within the locked down areas - if you've got a strong heart - mobility is possible.

- Reporting from Downtown Beirut: St. Georges Hotel highway is closed with burning tires. Cut-off point is at the Marina Tower. Hizballah men (unarmed) are manning the post. Heavy Lebanese Army presence in and around Downtown Beirut. Lots of Press trying to get through. I asked if I could take a photo, they said "We're a bit busy, now's not the time." Lebanese Army APC & Tanks are on every street corner in Downtown Beirut. No clashes or fighting has erupted in or around the area.

- France says there's no need for the evacuation of citizens.

- Kuwait has begun evacuating its citizens.

- The highway to Tripoli (Tarablous) has been closed. (not sure by which side)

- Death toll in the past 72 hours: 13 dead / +45 injured

- Sporadic gunfire ongoing in Koreitem. Mini markets in Hamra have opened shop for the locals stuck in the area.

- Reports indicate Saniora & Hariri are still in Beirut.

- The government vs opposition fight has moved to the South and North of Lebanon. Akkar [Minieh & Miniara] is a flashpoint, with Hariri's Future Movement militias setting up roadblocks and firing automatic weapons. Tyre (Sour) is also seeing some activity.

- Pro-government media outlets admit defeat of pro-government militias [by opposition militias] in Beirut.

- Italy has just opened up a hotline for its citizens in Beirut. (don't know the number)

- Aoun has just gone on TV to say that the fighting is over, the opposition has won, and the tomorrow all life will be back to normal in Beirut, with a greater sense of safety as the militias have either disbanded or fled, with militia offices and weapons now controlled by the Lebanese Army.

- MEA has cancelled all flights for another 24 hours.

- By midday the Dahr el Baidar passage was reopened for traffic in both directions.

- Jumblat has denied reports that he had been evacuated from Beirut.

- Hariri's Future Movement militia has called the Tareek el Jdeedeh area off limits to the Press and the Opposition - anyone who enters will be shot at.

- Heaving fighting reported around Hariri's Koreitem mansion.

- After around 12 hours of fighting, Hariri's Future Movement militia is all but defeated in all areas but Tareek el Jdeedeh (next to the Beirut Stadium). Most of Hariri's Future Movement militia offices were set on fire [by Hariri's Future Movement militia] before evacuation and handing-over to the army.

- Jumblat's militias have all but disbanded in Beirut, after significant defeats overnight. A figure in Jumblat's Beirut militia has laid down arms and surrendered to the opposition, and asked that others follow suit as Jumblat had abandoned them.

- Morning started with the closing of the Port and the St. Georges Hotel highway. These were soon reopened.

- I was on the roads just after midnight. They were calm, mostly deserted, with army checkpoints set up to stop the fighting from spreading.

- All armed clashes so far have taken place west of the green line. Bechara el Khoury was the closest green-line flashpoint.

- By midnight, a significant number of Hariri's Future Movement militia had been surrounded, with reports of armed men dropping their weapons and calling for help.

- Into the night, the opposition had made significant advances, overtaking offices of pro-government militias and handing them over to the army.

- Primary weapons of choice: Kalashnikov, M16, RPG, and B7

- The speeches led to clashes on the streets, primarily between Hizballah, Amal, Hariri, & Jumblat militias. Fighting was focused around Barbour, Barbeer, Corniche Mazraa, Tareek Jdeedeh, Ain el Tineh, and adjacent areas.

- After Nasrallah's speech asking the government to call off its war or else, Hariri made a speech about not giving in, calling for a compromise that asked the opposition to back down and accept the status quo. Aoun responded with a 'hell no'.

tags: english news, beirut, clashes, fighting, may 2008, tareek jdeedeh, barbir, barbour, corniche mazraa, hamra, koreitem, st georges, lebanon, lebanese, government, hariri, berri, jumblat, aoun, nasrallah, hizballah, amal, ssnp, future movement, militia, forces, opposition

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