Jan 27- Seven people have been shot dead in Lebanon’s capital after protests over power cuts. At least five of the dead in Sunday’s clashes in Beirut were supporters of the opposition, opposition sources said. At least four of the dead were close to the Hezbollah, which together with Amal has the support of the country’s Shia population. Security sources said 22 people were also wounded. The violence came two days after a car bombing killed a senior intelligence officer and four others involved in investigations into assassinations blamed by many Lebanese on Syria.
The deadlock has fuelled sectarian tensions between Shia Muslims loyal to the opposition Hezbollah and Amal factions, and Sunni supporters of Saad al-Hariri, who leads the governing March 14 coalition. Amal, which is led by Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker, called on its followers to halt the protests. "We have no link to this action. We call on people not to react. We call on them to pull out of the streets," Ali Hassan Khalil, a senior Amal official, told the Reuters agency. Hezbollah members used loudspeakers to urge calm. The violence escalated after an Amal activist was shot dead when the army moved to break up a demonstration against power cuts.
According to the security official, troops fired warning shots to disperse demonstrators after they set ablaze tires, blocking a main road in southeast Beirut in a protest over chronic power shortages.
Witnesses told AFP demonstrators carried sticks and metal bars and some gunmen in the crowd opened fire at the security forces who responded by firing at them. Troops were seen taking positions on rooftops, one witness told AFP.
Dozens of demonstrators were on the streets between Chiyah and Mar Mikhael neighborhoods in southeast Beirut and some protesters were also emerging on the streets further south, witnesses said.
Demonstrators have faced off with security forces on several occasions in the past days over power cuts in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Family angry
Lebanese soldiers run for cover during clashes with protesters in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. REUTERS/Houssam Shbaro
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 49 minutes ago
Lebanese Shi’ite Muslims burn tyres during a protest in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan
Lebanese soldiers take position in a street during clashes with protesters in Beirut’s suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army open fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/ Issam Kobeisy (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:16 AM
A Lebanese soldier tries to extinguish the fire in a car during clashes with protesters in Beirut’s suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army open fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/ Issam Kobeisy (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:08 AM
A Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim throws stones at a car on fire during clashes in Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army open fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/ Issam Kobeisy (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:06 AM
Lebanese soldiers stand guard as opposition supporters demonstrate in Beirut’s Shiite southern suburb of Shiyah, Lebanon Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. Dozens of angry people protesting electricity rationing closed a major intersection south of Beirut Sunday and troops had to shoot in the air to disperse the angry demonstrators, security officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:37 AM
Lebanese soldiers take positions after they were targeted in a shooting as opposition supporters set tyres on fire in Beirut’s Shiite southern suburb of Shiyah, Lebanon Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. Dozens of angry people protesting electricity rationing closed a major intersection south of Beirut Sunday and troops had to shoot in the air to disperse the angry demonstrators, security officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:46 AM
Lebanese soldiers stand guard as opposition supporters demonstrate in Beirut’s Shiite southern suburb of Shiyah, Lebanon Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. Dozens of angry people protesting electricity rationing closed a major intersection south of Beirut Sunday and troops had to shoot in the air to disperse the angry demonstrators, security officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:37 AM
\Lebanese soldiers blockade a street in front of protesters in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 7:58 AM
Opposition supporters demonstrate as Lebanese soldiers stand guard in Beirut’s Shiite southern suburb of Shiyah, Lebanon Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. Dozens of angry people protesting electricity rationing closed a major intersection south of Beirut Sunday and troops had to shoot in the air to disperse the angry demonstrators, security officials said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 9:06 AM
Lebanese soldiers take cover during a protest organised by members of the Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim group Amal in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 7:35 AM
Lebanese soldiers take cover during a protest organised by members of the Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim group Amal in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 7:35 AM
Lebanese soldiers take up position on a street as a Red Cross ambulance moves past during a protest organised by members of the Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim group Amal in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)
Lebanese armoured personnel carriers patrol a street during a protest in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 7:47 AM
Lebanese soldiers take positions in a street during clashes with protesters in Beirut’s suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from the Lebanese Shi’ite Mulsim group Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army open fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. (Issam Kobeisy/Reuters)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 52 minutes ago
Lebanese Shi’ite Muslims burn tyres during a protest in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. Four Lebanese opposition supporters were shot dead in Beirut on Sunday during protests against power cuts, raising tensions in a country gripped by a political crisis. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Jan 27 10:33 AM
Lebanese soldiers stand guard at the site of a demonstration over power cuts in the mainly-Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. At least seven people were killed on Sunday when protests over power cuts exploded into violence in the mainly Shiite southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut.(AFP/Anwar Amro)
AFP via Yahoo! News – 45 minutes ago
Lebanese protesters burn tyres during a demonstration over power cuts in the southern suburb of Beirut. At least seven people were killed on Sunday when protests over power cuts exploded into violence in the mainly Shiite southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut.(AFP/Anwar Amro)
Lebanese soldiers take up position on a street as a Red Cross ambulance moves past during a protest organised by members of the Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim group Amal in the Beirut suburbs January 27, 2008. An activist from Amal was killed in Beirut on Sunday when the army opened fire to break up a protest against power cuts, two Amal officials said. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)