Lebanese army commander warns of uncontrollable turmoil

Lebanon's army commander was seriously concerned about the ongoing anti-government protests which have sparked clashes over the past two nights, warning of an uncontrollable turmoil if the daily protests and riots continue.

Gen. Michel Suleiman made the comments against the backdrop of an escalating clashes in several Sunni neighborhoods between anti- government protesters and pro-government followers which have caused casualties.

Suleiman's comments showed that the military was concerned that the political crisis between government led by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and the Hezbollah-led opposition was approaching dangerous levels.

The Lebanese opposition continued Tuesday the open-ended sit-in that began last Friday aimed at toppling Seniora's cabinet amid tightened safety.

On the same day, Beirut witnessed the funeral of an anti- government protester who was shot dead in riots between supporters and opponents of the Beirut government, that has raised sectarian tensions in the country.

Hundreds of Shiite Muslims marched behind the coffin of 20-year- old Ahmed Ali Mahmoud, who was shot dead on Sunday in a Sunni neighborhood while returning from an opposition rally, in a procession led by Hezbollah.

Waving clinched fists and flags of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movement, angry mourners chanting "death" to Premier Fouad Seniora.

Fearing sectarian violence that could detonate Lebanon's political crisis, the rival political leaders urged the supporters to keep restraint.

Vice President of the Lebanese Higher Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan said at the funeral of Mahmoud that "it is enough that we suffer from Israel. It is prohibited to fight each other, to provoke and curse each other."

Meanwhile, Lebanese pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt called on the Lebanese University's students to stay at home at this period to avoid and prevent sedition.

In addition, Lebanese security authorities on Tuesday appealed to organizers of protests to restrain the activists and ban them from attacking civilians and properties.

On Monday night, renewed clashes erupted in Beirut between protestors from the Shiite Amal movement and Hezbollah and followers of the slain Premier Rafik Hariri and his son Saad Hariri on the streets which have resulted in the injury of 20 people.

Lebanese sectarian tension in the cabinet began to escalate last month when six pro-Syria ministers resigned after Seniora and the anti-Syrian majority in parliament rejected the opposition's demand for a new national unity government.

The opposition says it will continue its protest campaign until Seniora agrees to step down, while the prime minister and his supporters have vowed to stay in office.

Source: Xinhua