Gasoline price-hike protest leaves 5 dead - Beruit

BEIRUT: Five protesters were shot dead and at least 20 others wounded in Beirut's southern suburb of Hay al-Sellom Thursday, when the worker protest against the hike in gasoline prices turned into a battlefront, with the army firing live bullets into the crowd. Later in the day, 300 rioters broke into the Labor Ministry in Shiah and burned the first floor of the building after throwing computers and equipment out of the windows. See the protest in pictures ... Click here!

The events took place amid a heavy silence from top officials who failed to denounce the shootings. But President Emile Lahoud requested that the judiciary proceed with an investigation without commenting or denouncing the shootings.

On Thursday, there was growing speculation that there might be a set-up to oust Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his Cabinet, which is likely to have prompted Hariri to cut short his two-day trip to Damascus and head straight back to Beirut.

Reports flowed on Thursday that the protest and clashes were reminiscent of the May 6, 1992, nationwide protest, which resulted in the ousting of then-Prime Minister Omar Karami and which subsequently brought Hariri to power.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=4581

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/beirutprotest.asp?edition_id=10 (Take a look at this slide show. This doesn't look like a gasoline protest it looks like a political rally. It looks wide spread too.)

Something seems fishy here. Shooting 30 citizens who were protesting about 40 cents increase in gas prices? What does the Gov. think they're in America? This is the first story I've seen where a Gov. shot it's citizens since the peaceful demonstrators were shot, beaten, poison gased, and arrested in Amerca starting in 2002.

What are the real facts about this incident?

Plus, I can't find this story anywhere. I only saw a pic on a African website but no story. It took me a long time to find the link above.

people will start taking the need for alternative fuels seriously. In the meantime 5 less people using up my gasoline(jk)