[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: The sound of RPGs

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
The sound of RPGs
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1210275960.shtml


   Charles Malik posts today from [1]Ras Beirut:

     The bullets and RPGs are flying, again. There are sustained bursts,
     then quiet.

     The RPGs make an interesting suction sound as they are fired.

     It's dark. Oddly enough, many people in Hamra have their drapes
     open and lights on. That is surprising, but I guess shows that the
     situation is either not horribly bad, or that these people are just
     a bit ignorant.

     Two separate friends both within two separate blocks in opposite
     directions just invited me to come over. Both assured me that the
     half a block in front of them are safe, but could not say anything
     about the rest of the journey.

     It sounds like an RPG just landed on my street, though.

   According [2]to Yahoo:

     BEIRUT, Lebanon - Security officials say that two civilians were
     killed in clashes between Shiite Hezbollah supporters and the
     government's Sunni backers.

     The officials say the mother and her son died when a
     rocket-propelled grenade hit their apartment in Beirut's
     neighborhood of Ras el-Nabeh during Thursday's fighting.

   Via [3]Ya Libnan

     Hezbollah holding an entire nation hostage:

     Other unconfirmed reports indicated Hezbollah was planning to set
     up tents near Beirut airport, like they did in downtown Beirut on
     December 1, 2006, when they blocked the road near the governmental
     palace. The camp is still in downtown Beirut.

     "Hezbollah is invading the city, by doing this," said majority MP
     Wael Abu Faour.

     Hezbollah followers were seen patrolling on motorcycles in most
     areas near Beirut airport and their security men were seen standing
     with walkie-talkies.

     Opposition sources close to Hezbollah told dpa that House Speaker
     Nabih Berri and officials in Hezbollah told the government the
     airport road would be reopened when the government reinstated the
     pro-Hezbollah airport security chief, Wafiq Choukair.

     He was dismissed by a government decision on Tuesday after being
     accused of helping Hezbollah install cameras to monitor planes
     landing at Beirut International Airport.

     "This is not an economic protest. This is an attempt to overthrow
     the government," said Salwa Baltagi 20, a supporter of the
     government.

References

   1. http://lebop.blogspot.com/2008/05/fighting-breaks-out-again-in-beirut.html
   2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080508/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_protests
   3. http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/hezbollah_holdi_1.php