Mark
06-02-06, 04:54
Protesters go on rampage
Web posted at: 2/6/2006 2:49:55
Source ::: Agencies
Lebanese Islamist demonstrators gather in front of the Danish consulate after setting fire to it in Beirut yesterday.
Danish mission in Beirut set ablaze; sectarian tension mounts
BEIRUT: Thousands of Muslims rampaged here yesterday, setting fire to the Danish embassy, burning Danish flags and lobbing stones at a Maronite Catholic church as violent protests over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) spread from neighbouring Syria.
The violence fuelled sectarian tensions in Lebanon and forced the resignation of Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa.
The protesters, waving green Islamic flags and chanting “God is greatest”, stoned a church in the eastern part of the capital, provoking an angry Christian outcry in a country that has not fully recovered from its 1975-1990 civil war.
About 20,000 protesters marched on the consulate, some carrying banners that read “Whoever insults Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is to be killed” and throwing stones at security forces, who fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse the crowd.
One demonstrator, among those who set the consulate building on fire, was encircled by flames and died after jumping from the third floor, a senior security official said.
The protesters attacked three fire engines to stop them from extinguishing the blaze and hung up a banner at the building’s entrance reading: “We are ready to sacrifice our children for you, O Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).”
Security forces arrested 174 protesters: 76 Syrians, 38 Lebanese, 35 Palestinians and 25 stateless Bedouins , a police official said. Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa, a Muslim retired officer loyal to the country’s anti-Syrian majority coalition, submitted his resignation at a late-night emergency cabinet meeting.
The Danish mission’s staff left Lebanon on Saturday because they were expecting the protest, a senior security official said. The building also houses the Austrian consulate. Denmark’s Foreign Ministry urged all Danes to leave Lebanon and warned its citizens not to travel there. “Danes should remain indoors until they have figured out a means of leaving,” it said in a statement. “The situation in Beirut is not under control.”
Some protesters stoned a Christian Maronite church nearby and a group of Muslim clerics went to the church to apologise, witnesses said. The protesters also damaged 50 cars and 40 shops and set fire to a bank, the police official said. On Saturday, Syrians set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus, damaged the Swedish embassy and tried to storm the French mission.
In New York, hundreds of Muslims and supporters gathered for a peaceful rally outside the Danish mission to the United Nations, demanding an apology from Denmark. Demonstrators held signs with slogans such as: ‘Hate speech is not free speech’, ‘Denmark must apologise’ and ‘Europe must show civility’.
President Emile Lahoud joined scores of Christian officials in deploring the attack on the church. Scores of Christians also burned tyres and briefly blocked the highway linking Beirut to the Muslim-dominated Bekaa Valley. The police official, said 21 policemen and 12 protesters were injured. Many suffered from teargas inhalation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told private Future television: “This has nothing to do with Islam at all. Destabilising security and vandalism gives a wrong image of Islam. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) cannot be defended this way.” The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference also condemned the burning of the Danish and Norwegian embassies.
Web posted at: 2/6/2006 2:49:55
Source ::: Agencies
Lebanese Islamist demonstrators gather in front of the Danish consulate after setting fire to it in Beirut yesterday.
Danish mission in Beirut set ablaze; sectarian tension mounts
BEIRUT: Thousands of Muslims rampaged here yesterday, setting fire to the Danish embassy, burning Danish flags and lobbing stones at a Maronite Catholic church as violent protests over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) spread from neighbouring Syria.
The violence fuelled sectarian tensions in Lebanon and forced the resignation of Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa.
The protesters, waving green Islamic flags and chanting “God is greatest”, stoned a church in the eastern part of the capital, provoking an angry Christian outcry in a country that has not fully recovered from its 1975-1990 civil war.
About 20,000 protesters marched on the consulate, some carrying banners that read “Whoever insults Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is to be killed” and throwing stones at security forces, who fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse the crowd.
One demonstrator, among those who set the consulate building on fire, was encircled by flames and died after jumping from the third floor, a senior security official said.
The protesters attacked three fire engines to stop them from extinguishing the blaze and hung up a banner at the building’s entrance reading: “We are ready to sacrifice our children for you, O Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).”
Security forces arrested 174 protesters: 76 Syrians, 38 Lebanese, 35 Palestinians and 25 stateless Bedouins , a police official said. Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa, a Muslim retired officer loyal to the country’s anti-Syrian majority coalition, submitted his resignation at a late-night emergency cabinet meeting.
The Danish mission’s staff left Lebanon on Saturday because they were expecting the protest, a senior security official said. The building also houses the Austrian consulate. Denmark’s Foreign Ministry urged all Danes to leave Lebanon and warned its citizens not to travel there. “Danes should remain indoors until they have figured out a means of leaving,” it said in a statement. “The situation in Beirut is not under control.”
Some protesters stoned a Christian Maronite church nearby and a group of Muslim clerics went to the church to apologise, witnesses said. The protesters also damaged 50 cars and 40 shops and set fire to a bank, the police official said. On Saturday, Syrians set fire to the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus, damaged the Swedish embassy and tried to storm the French mission.
In New York, hundreds of Muslims and supporters gathered for a peaceful rally outside the Danish mission to the United Nations, demanding an apology from Denmark. Demonstrators held signs with slogans such as: ‘Hate speech is not free speech’, ‘Denmark must apologise’ and ‘Europe must show civility’.
President Emile Lahoud joined scores of Christian officials in deploring the attack on the church. Scores of Christians also burned tyres and briefly blocked the highway linking Beirut to the Muslim-dominated Bekaa Valley. The police official, said 21 policemen and 12 protesters were injured. Many suffered from teargas inhalation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told private Future television: “This has nothing to do with Islam at all. Destabilising security and vandalism gives a wrong image of Islam. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) cannot be defended this way.” The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference also condemned the burning of the Danish and Norwegian embassies.