(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, AUGUST 16 - Tension in Lebanon remains
high, in Beirut's area in particular, after news yesterday from
neighbouring Syria sparked the rage of Shiite clans faithful to
the pro-Iran Hezbollah movement who kidnapped 20 Syrians and a
Turkish citizen.
Traffic on the road connecting the capital to its international airport is still intense due to road blocks with garbage cans and tires on fire by Shiite followers of Hezbollah demanding the release of an influential member of the Midqad clan. The man was captured near Damascus by anti-regime Syrian rebels who accuse him of being part of a 1.500-member contingent of Shiite fighters who are aiding the regime to crack down on the revolt.
This morning an Air France flight from Paris did not land in Beirut as scheduled but was first directed to Damascus and then to Larnaca, Cyprus, due to the poor security conditions in the Lebanese capital.
The national Nna agency reported this morning that police and the Lebanese army are protecting diplomatic delegations from Turkey and Gulf countries, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in particular, which support the Syrian revolt against President Bashar al Assad.
The leaders of Miqdad and other allied Shiite clans announced yesterday they had kidnapped 26 Syrians whom they claim are members of anti-Damascus rebel forces as well as a Turkish citizen and that they mean to seize Qatar and Saudi rebel supporters.
Yesterday Gulf country governments issued a security alert asking their citizens to leave the country immediately. A delegation of Miqdad met this morning with the Lebanese foreign minister and told him they are not planning to release the Turkish citizen yet.(ANSAmed).
Traffic on the road connecting the capital to its international airport is still intense due to road blocks with garbage cans and tires on fire by Shiite followers of Hezbollah demanding the release of an influential member of the Midqad clan. The man was captured near Damascus by anti-regime Syrian rebels who accuse him of being part of a 1.500-member contingent of Shiite fighters who are aiding the regime to crack down on the revolt.
This morning an Air France flight from Paris did not land in Beirut as scheduled but was first directed to Damascus and then to Larnaca, Cyprus, due to the poor security conditions in the Lebanese capital.
The national Nna agency reported this morning that police and the Lebanese army are protecting diplomatic delegations from Turkey and Gulf countries, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in particular, which support the Syrian revolt against President Bashar al Assad.
The leaders of Miqdad and other allied Shiite clans announced yesterday they had kidnapped 26 Syrians whom they claim are members of anti-Damascus rebel forces as well as a Turkish citizen and that they mean to seize Qatar and Saudi rebel supporters.
Yesterday Gulf country governments issued a security alert asking their citizens to leave the country immediately. A delegation of Miqdad met this morning with the Lebanese foreign minister and told him they are not planning to release the Turkish citizen yet.(ANSAmed).
