Zouk Mosbeh Road Blocked after NDU Reveling Students Arrested
Scores of students belonging to the Phalange Party on Friday blocked the Zouk Mosbeh-Jeita highway to protest the army’s arrest of three of their comrades who were using fireworks to celebrate their victory in student elections at the Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU), state-run National News Agency reported.
The road was reopened a few hours later after the army released the detained students, NNA said.
“Once the results were announced at NDU in Zouk Mosbeh, the triumphant students took to the streets to celebrate, launching fireworks, which prompted army troops in charge of security in the university’s vicinity to try to stop them. Verbal clashes and a stampede ensued, leaving several students injured,” the agency clarified.
Media reports said the army called in major reinforcements to Zouk Mosbeh, with its anti-terrorism and anti-riot forces deploying in the area.
“It’s a shame that in 2011 some people are allowed to carry rockets and shells and install private telecom networks while other citizens are beaten and arrested when they launch fireworks,” Phalange Party Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel told Radio Voice of Lebanon (100.3-100.5).
For his part, his bloc colleague MP Elie Marouni said “the scene reminds us of August 7,” referring to the Lebanese authorities’ infamous 2001 crackdown on opposition students.
“While Arabs are heading towards freedom, we are seeing how violence is increasing against students and youths,” Marouni added, noting that he made contacts with several security officials and asked them “whether they had noticed how Hizbullah members in the Bekaa celebrate every single occasion by firing RPGs.”
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