Bomb wounds five in Lebanon ahead of labour protest (1st Lead)

May 7, 2008, 6:33 GMT

Beirut - A sonic bomb was thrown at demonstrators gathering in Kornich al-Mazraa in Lebanon, wounding at least five people, among them two army soldiers, ahead of a labour protest Wednesday.

Dozens of pro-Syrian opposition followers, mainly from the Shiite Hezbollah movement and its ally Amal, blocked roads leading to Beirut a few hours ahead of the scheduled protest about the high cost of living by Lebanon's main labour union.

Burning tyres and sand blocked the main highways leading to the capital.

Opposition followers and others loyal to the ruling majority were seen facing off in the area shouting angry slogans against each other.

Some were seen carrying sticks and others stones.

Lebanese police managed to disperse both sides, but followers of majority leader Saad Hariri were distributing leaflets warning opposition followers not to pass through their areas.

'We are warning them not to step foot in our areas,' a majority follower said.

The scenes were reminiscent of an anti-government protest in 2007 that led to some of Lebanon's worst internal strife since its 1975-90 civil war.

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 tyres.

'This is only a start,' said an opposition follower who was near the airport.

The Syrian-backed opposition has urged supporters to back the strike by Lebanon's main labour union.

On Tuesday, the Western-backed government accused Hezbollah of violating Lebanon's sovereignty by operating its own communications network and installing spy cameras at Beirut airport.

The government, supported by the United States and a number of Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, also removed the head of Beirut airport security in another challenge to Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria.

Hezbollah said the communications network was part of its security apparatus and its ongoing fight against Israel.