Hariri Rage” Turns Violent

Hariri Supporters’ “Day of Rage” Turns Violent

25/01/2011 Violent riots have erupted across Lebanon on Tuesday as caretaker Prime Minsiter Saad Hariri’s supporters took to street to protest Hariri’s failure to secure a parliamentary majority in the binding consultations to nominate a new PM.

Former PM Najib Mikati clinched a 68-60 wining majority in the second day of consultations which took place in Baabda presidential Palace.

Hariri’s supporters’ main targets were media reporters and the Lebanese army forces.

Army forces have barely saved media crews who were surrounded by Hariri’s supporters in a building that rioters had set ablaze in Tripoli. The forces evacuated the building amid gun shots. The reporters, local and foreign, were covering the so called “Day of Rage” called for by Hariri’s Future MPs in Tripoli Monday night.

Hariri’s supporters set upon Al-Jazeera channel’s SNG vehicle, smashing the windshield and tearing down the satellite dish before setting it on fire.

In Beirut, Saad Hariri’s supporters attacked media crews belonging to OTV and NBN local channels. They also tossed a hand grenade at the Lebanese army outside Tariq Jadideh, the Beirut stronghold of the Future movement.

Gun shots were also heard in some areas like Cola-Cornish al-Mazraa and Dohat al-Hoss in Khalde. Lebanese army forces set up road blocks to stop Hariri’s supporters from further causing damage to properties.

On Monday, Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement MPs Mohammed Kabbara and Mustapha Allouch urged Hariri’s supporters to take to streets on Tuesday and dubbed the day as the “Day of Rage.”
“We call on the Lebanese to express their anger and their refusal to fall under Iranian control through peaceful protests," Alloush said.

Kabbara used a sectarian language describing the democratic process to topple Hariri’s government and then name Najib Miqati through parliamentary consultations as an “unacceptable aggression against the Sunni confession and the nation.”

Local TV NBN reported later on that Future Movement MP Khaled Daher was heading a rally of armed people in Akkar, also urging people to take to the streets.

The Army Command had on Monday warned in a statement against messing with national security and violating the rules of peaceful protest.

HARIRI CONTRADICTS HIMSELF

Hariri, last Thursday, stressed that his party wouldn’t resort to street action.

“We won’t resort to street action and this game has nothing to do with our patriotic ethics,” he said. Hariri also stressed that he only follows constitutional means. “We accept any outcome of the constitutional process regardless of street action,” he added as he was still convinced that his chances of being renamed were high.
However, when the opposition appeared victorious during the binding consultations with President Michel Sleiman, all the “principles” changed and the “street game” quickly became the game of Hariri’s Future movement.

HARIRI JUSTIFIES RIOTS, DOESN’T CALL SUPPORTERS TO LEAVE STREETS

On Tuesday, three and a half hours after riots broke out in the country, Hariri delivered a speech to say that “Tripoli has said its word.” He described his supporters as “angry but responsible” and the “he understands their rage.” In his address, Hariri called on his supporters not to “be dragged to anger no matter how they [his foes] try to push you into it,” thus justifying their riots.
Hariri did not ask his supporters to leave the streets.


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