Hezbollah Gunmen Take Beirut Neighborhoods
Secretary Of State Rice Accuses Militants Of Killing Innocent Civilians
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An anti-government gunman loyal to a pro-Syrian group throws a Molotov cocktail towards a two-story building belonging to Hariri's Future TV that was set on fire, engulfing a poster of of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in smoke, in Beirut, Lebanon Friday, May 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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A Sunni supporter of parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri burns tires to block the highway linking Beirut with coastal village of Jiyeh, Lebanon, Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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Passengers pulling their baggage head towards the terminal building at Beirut's international airport, Lebanon, Thursday, May 8, 2008. Supporters of the militant Shiite Hezbollah kept the road to the airport blocked, Thursday, effectively closing the airport for a second straight day. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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In this picture released by the Lebanese official photographer Dalati Nohra, top Lebanese Sunni Muslim leader Saad Hariri, reads a statement at his house in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Dalati Nohra, HO)
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Shiite gunmen fix the Amal group flag on a lamp post in a newly seized neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, May 9, 2008. Shiite Hezbollah gunmen seized control of neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital's Muslim sector from Sunni foes loyal to the U.S.-backed government on Friday following sectarian clashes reminiscent of Lebanon's bloody 15-year civil war. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
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Photo Essay
Muslims Clash In Lebanon
Sectarian clashes reminiscent of Lebanon's bloody 15-Year civil war.
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Fast Facts
Lebanon
Learn about the people, economy and history.
The move dramatically strengthened the Shiite militant group's hand in bitter political battles over the country's future.
At one point, about 100 Hezbollah militants wearing matching camouflage uniforms and carrying assault rifles marched down the city's main commercial street in a display of power meant to show the government who's in charge.
They took up positions in corners and sidewalks and stopped the few cars braving the empty streets to search their trunks.
Nearby, dozens of fighters from another Hezbollah-allied party appeared, some with their faces masked and carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Elsewhere, Hezbollah-allied militiamen from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party drove in cars, firing in the air in celebration.
Lebanon's army largely stood aside as Shiite fighters scattered their opponents in street fights to occupy most of the capital's Muslim sector.
It was Lebanon's worst sectarian fighting in more than a decade and a grim harkening back to its devastating 1975-90 civil war. That war left Beirut divided into two main sectors, one predominantly Muslim and the other mainly Christian.
At least 15 people have been died in three days of violence.
Hours after the takeover, however, Hezbollah fighters began withdrawing from streets they had occupied and Lebanese troops began moving into some neighborhoods. Others remained on street corners across the area they control as the fighting began to ease.
Christian leader Michel Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah, declared after Hezbollah's triumph that "the train is back on the right track" and predicted the situation will begin to de-escalate.
The pullback signaled Hezbollah did not intend a lasting takeover of the Sunni Muslim parts of Beirut, unlike the takeover of Gaza a year ago by the Islamic militant Hamas.
Hezbollah and allied gunmen steered away from government buildings and made no attempt to advance toward the city's Christian sector. Christian neighborhoods were peaceful, with troops deployed along the former old civil war demarcation line.
Yet the Hezbollah show-of-force was certain to both strengthen its own political position and deeply worry a Middle East and Western world nervous about Iran's influence and intentions in the region.
The Western-backed government and Hezbollah-led opposition have been deadlocked in a power struggle for 17 months over control of the government.
The stunning turn of events also dealt a blow to the U.S., which has long considered Hezbollah a terrorist organization backed by Syria and Iran, and has been a supporter of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government and its army over the last three years.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Hezbollah is killing and injuring innocent civilians and is "seeking to protect their state-within-a-state."
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the U.S. was very troubled by Hezbollah's actions.
"We urge Hezbollah to stop their attempt to defy the lawful decisions taken by the democratically elected Lebanese government. We also urge Iran and Syria to stop their support of Hezbollah and its destabilizing effects on Lebanon," he added. "We have confidence in the government of Lebanon."
Syria and Qatar agreed Friday that the crisis in Lebanon was an internal issue, and expressed hope that the Lebanese would find a solution through dialogue, reports CBS News' George Baghdadi in Damascus.
The joint statement was issued after a series of discussions earlier in the day between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Qatari Emir Prince Hamad Bin Khaleefa Al-Thani.
"Talks dealt with the current developments in the region, in particular Lebanon, and view points were identical; that the crisis was an internal Lebanese issue," the statement said.
The political crisis has its roots in allegations of Syrian and Iranian interference in Lebanon. Hezbollah and its allies bolted out of the Cabinet 17 months ago and since then, Saniora has consistently refused their demands for veto power in a future administration.
Hezbollah, in turn, has besieged downtown Beirut with a sit-in, and has blocked the election of a president in parliament, leaving the country without a head of state since November.
Sporadic street clashes had broken out in the last year. But this week's intense violence began after the government tried to fire a Hezbollah-linked airport security chief and shut down a Hezbollah communications network.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a fiery speech Thursday, called those government decisions a "declaration of war." Shortly after his speech, the worst of the street clashes erupted and the Shiite forces overran Beirut neighborhoods.
"The government tried to show force by shutting down Hezbollah. Hezbollah showed force by pushing back the government," said Jon Alterman, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Middle East Program in Washington.
"Hezbollah emerged stronger and the government emerged weaker, but that's not to say that the government is weaker than Hezbollah," Alterman added.
Lebanon's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, said Friday he was confident that Lebanon will not drift toward an Iraq-styled sectarian strife.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 347 CommentsThat''s simply amazing.
Pro US forces are getting their butts kicked in Lebanon by Hezbollah, in Iraq by Sadr, and in Palestine by Hamas.
And this is no coincidence. These movements have the strength to fight off pro US forces because people are on their side.
One way or another people in the Middle East will implement their own type of democracy to make sure their voices are heard and not allow the US sellouts in their midst to have the last word.
No, this is MY dusty rock!
NO! This is MY dusty Rock!
etc., etc., etc.
are dead, the sun is shinning bright, doves
flying all over the ***--in'' place, no
need for comment boards, we''re back to playing
with our selves . .not a bad idea though, but is
this what you really want?
If only we had spent the three trillion dollars that were going to spend trying to steel Iraq''s oil, on developing the sustainable energy technologies that we already have. We''d be well on our way to energy independence. We could sending money and blood to the middle east for good.
But that takes forward thinking leadership. Something conservatives seem completely incapable of.
If only we had spent the three trillion dollars that were going to spend trying to steel Iraq''s oil, on developing the sustainable energy technologies that we already have. We''d be well on our way to energy independence. We could stop sending money and blood to the middle east for good.
But that takes forward thinking leadership. Something conservatives seem completely incapable of.
As the Israelis ended their first occupation, many Phlangist stooges were betrayed by the Israelis who refused to allow them to flee into Israel.
Isn''t that precious? Treacherous Sunnis, Saudis, Americans and Israelis all working together against the people of Lebanon. Wahabbists, al Qaeda assets, Israelis and Americans all on the same page in Lebanon just as they are in Iraq.
A few months ago they had parliamentary elections where the US media expected two anti-Hezbollah Christians to win but guess what happened?
They were both defeated by pro Hezbollah Christians who were voted in power by the Lebanese Christians themselves.
When Hamas won the biggest and freest elections in the history of the Arab world back in 2006 they had 6 Palestinian Christian candidates running for them.
I repeat, religion has nothing to do with this. It''s all about who is pro or anti US strategy.
And after everything the Israelis and the US have done in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, any and all pro US Arab forces should be done away with for good.
And that''s exactly what''s happening: Sadr and his Mahdi army in Iraq, Hamas in Palestine and now Hezbollah in Lebanon are kicking the butts of those traitors that have been bought with US money.
The Middle East is their turf and there''s no way in hell they''re going to let the US and Israel have the last word over there.
Posted by notblue at 12:54 PM : May 09, 2008
Did you know that Hamas is the democratically elected government of the Palestinian people?
Why do you uphold one democratically elected government over another?
Very well said. :)
Posted by notblue at 01:11 PM : May 09, 2008
My point is that Hamas was the democratially elected government, but WE (as in America) and Israel overthrew them and replaced them with Fatah.
Why aren''t you concerned with THAT democratically elected government, but you''re worried about the other one?
As far as Hamas being a terrorist organization, only four countries recognize that: the US, Israel, Canada, and Japan. And if Israel wasn''t making ALL of our political decisions for us, we wouldn''t consider them a terrorist organization either.
These movements were born from the people for the people and they have the support of the vast majority of the Arab world.
That''s why they''re here to stay. Deal with it.
Grow the f'' up and deal with it.
Posted by dumbshun at 01:32 PM : May 09, 2008
Hamas "terrorists" killed 27 people in 2007.
The IDF "terrorists" killed 650 people in 2007, and 120 of those were children.
Which group of "terrorists" has killed more people - the IDF or Hamas?
Closethppy, so according to you if the vast majority of the Muslim owrld supports 6th century theocratic barbarism who''s agenda is one of world domination then we all should just live with it? Thanks for that statement it was very illuminating in regards to your thought process.
Posted by notblue at 01:35 PM : May 09, 2008
No they don''t.
EXACTLY like Israel DOES NOT have the right to take over areas of the palestinian people like Gaza, the "occupied territories", the Golan heights, etc.
Now I answered YOUR question, now answer mine:
"Since Israel is not the DEMOCRATICALLY elected representative government of the palestinian people, do they have the right to take areas and or the country by force?"
Why do you view one situation differently from the other, when politically, they are the EXACT SAME THING?
Closethppy, so according to you if the vast majority of the Muslim owrld supports 6th century theocratic barbarism who''''s agenda is one of world domination then we all should just live with it? Thanks for that statement it was very illuminating in regards to your thought process.
Posted by notblue at 01:38 PM : May 09, 2008
Nope. They were overthrown by Fatah with the assistance of Israel and the US. That''s why there will NEVER be a legitimate peace process - because the US and Israel both refuse to sit down with the democratically elected government of the Palestinian people. They want to sit down with the government they "installed" instead.
Do you have ANY idea what is really going on over there?
Which group of "terrorists" has killed more people - the IDF or Hamas?
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Posted by hungry1968
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hungry1968 how did you ever get so contaminated?
Between you McVet, j-whitman, bluestardad, skyk, and the other "regular" liberal Democrats it''s a wonder why our country is in the shape it''s in today.
Do you also believe, like Rosie O''Donnell, that building #7 at the World Trade Center was brought down by "controlled explosions?
Posted by notblue at 01:38 PM : May 09, 2008
Who EVER said that was their agenda?
Name ONE, just ONE, source. And NOT the Quran either - I''m talking about a current political leader or party, that called for this "agenda" to begin.
You''re so f.ucking ignorant you''re confusing AlQaeda with legitimate resistance movements.
Only in America people who are ignorant feel passionate about subjects they know nothing about.
Do you have ANY idea what is really going on over there?
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Posted by hungry1968
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Hungry1968 you don''t get it.
Iran is in a world war right now.
They control Hamas,Hezbollah, and the illegal militas in Iraq.
ONLY when Iran says there can be peace there will be peace.
Iran hold ALL the power over these three groups as well as Syria. All these groups are NOT ALLOWED to make peace with Israel.
We can ALL thank Jimmy Carter for the worst move in the 20th century, publicly withdrawing support from the Shah of Iran in 1979........Thanks Jimmy.
Posted by notblue at 01:42 PM : May 09, 2008
I don''t have to "admit" anything - I say ALL of the time that we should cut our ties with BOTH sides of this "holy war", since their religious beliefs have NOTHING to do with OUR government, OUR safety, or OUR security. But OUR involvement, in THEIR affairs, does make us susceptible to terrorists.
I''m really glad to see this comment from you, "No country including Israel has the right to take land by force." It''s the first time that you''ve ever said that the 1948 invasion of Palestine was wrong of Israel to do.
Apparently Lebanon does not have the necessary forces, and strength to control either of these two militias.
Iraq should watch and learn that allowing religious militia''s to exist in their country undermines the nation, destroying any chance for long term peace within the nation. The resulting instability damages the nations ability to create and maintain industries and prosperity.
Posted by closethippy1 at 01:46 PM : May 09, 2008
You are speaking of yourself, obviously.
So why don''t you take your own advice?
Posted by hungry1968
Apparently you have no idea what is going on over there either. Your remarks were incorrect and displayed vast ignorance of the subject.
Do you also believe, like Rosie O''''Donnell, that building #7 at the World Trade Center was brought down by "controlled explosions?
Posted by perceptions5 at 01:43 PM : May 09, 2008
Our country is in the shape it''s in, because of neo con inspired, republican leadership - NOTHING else. If us "libs" had ANYTHING to do with this country, 95% of our domestic problems would be fixed, and we wouldn''t be in Iraq bankrupting our country.
They control Hamas,Hezbollah, and the illegal militas in Iraq.
ONLY when Iran says there can be peace there will be peace.
Posted by perceptions5 at 01:49 PM : May 09, 2008
That''s what YOUR handlers want you to believe.
Admit this - Saddam Hussein held Iran in check, and he prevented almost ALL of Iran''s influence in the region. True or False?
The answer is "true". That being said, wouldn''t Bush''s removal of S. Hussein be THE SINGLE MOST DESTABILIZING event of the entire mid east?
Welcome to the "liberal" point of view.
Cry all you want - the UN election commission over saw the election and certified the result.
Because Israel and the US didn''t like the result, doesn''t mean that the election wasn''t real.
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