Sectarian Clashes in West Beirut Kill 1

[High Plains]

From the Associated Press: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4375994.html

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Violent clashes broke out Sunday between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the capital, leaving one man dead from gunshot wounds at a time when tensions throughout Lebanon threaten the country's fragile sectarian and political balance.

Tension has been running high in Lebanon, particularly since Friday when Hezbollah supporters began an open-ended sit-in in Beirut in an effort to bring down the U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Saniora, emboldened by Arab and international support for his U.S.-backed government, vowed on Sunday to stay in office despite the ongoing protests.

<snip>

The clash in Tarik Jdideh occurred as a group of Hezbollah supporters were returning from Beirut's downtown and passed through the Sunni neighborhood. Police officials said the two sides threw stones at each other, then shots were fired, killing Ahmed Ali Mahmoud, a 20-year-old Shiite. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the press. At least 10 other people were slightly injured elsewhere in West Beirut in similar clashes.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. Great. Just great.

Between Bush/Republicans and Olmert/Sharon/Likud/Kadima, the whole goddamn Middle East might be on fire before long.

[xchrom]

2. here it comes.

this will get ugly before it gets pretty.