Roads blocked in Beirut anti-gov’t protests

Press TV | Demonstrators have blocked roads in and around Beirut with burning tires, protesting against the govt’s economic and social policies. Witnesses said the main road leading to Beirut’s international airport was among routes blocked by the protesters, who support the Hezbollah-led opposition, Reuters reports.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah called on all workers and employees to demonstrate on May 7, blaming the government for the country’s political and economic crises.

Al-Manar TV channel reported that a group, belonging to the al-Mustaqbal Movement headed by Saad Hariri, threw a bomb at demonstrators, wounding five people including two army forces.

Soldiers and police were on full alert and managed to open some of the blocked roads, but the airport thoroughfare was still obstructed by burning tires.

An airport official said that although several flights flew in and out of the airport in the early morning, flights were cancelled between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (0600 and 1200 GMT).

Many schools and businesses were shut down.

In the southern coastal city of Tyre, hundreds gathered in the main square demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Similar protests were held in other major towns.

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