Dozens of followers of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and its allies yesterday staged a protest near the US embassy in Beirut against what they call Washington’s meddling in Lebanese affairs.
Last month, US ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea was summoned by Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti after she made remarks against Hezbollah in a TV interview.
Yesterday’s demonstration followed Shea’s meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab in Beirut earlier in the day.
Protesters chanted slogans against the diplomat and the United States. “Your blatant interference in Lebanese affairs are denounced,” shouted a group of Hezbollah followers clad in black shirts and carrying the yellow flags of Hezbollah.
Members of the Syrian Socialist National Party, Palestinians groups and the Lebanese Communist Party took part in the protest held on a road leading to the US embassy compound in the area of Awkar in northern Beirut.
Lebanese security forces blocked the road with barbed wires and used water cannon as the protesters tried to approach the site. No casualties were reported.“Death to America!” chanted some protesters. Others raised their fists into the air shouting: “God bless Nasrallah,” in support of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
“Despite your political and economic siege on Lebanon, our resistance against Israel will remain and we will not starve,” read one placard raised in the protest.
In her remarks to Al-Hadath television last month, the US ambassador said Washington had “great concerns” over Hezbollah role in the Lebanese government.
She added that the group had obstructed some reforms that the ailing Lebanese economy desperately needs.
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