Reports: Embassies issue warnings ahead of Hizbullah-Amal scooter rally
The U.S. and Australian embassies in Lebanon have issued warnings to their citizens and tensions have surged in some areas amid reports that supporters of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement intend to stage a scooter rally in Beirut and its suburbs at 5pm Monday, media reports said.
The pro-Hizbullah al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the U.S. embassy asked its citizens in Lebanon to “avoid areas witnessing rallies and gatherings.”
A warning published on the embassy’s website on Monday reminded U.S. citizens to “review the current Travel Advisory for Lebanon.”
“In particular, we call your attention to the Country Summary which advises U.S. citizens to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings,” the warning said.
“Demonstrations occur frequently in Lebanon. U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests as some have turned violent. In the past, protesters blocked major roads, including thoroughfares between downtown Beirut and the area where the U.S. Embassy is located, and between Beirut and Rafiq Hariri International Airport,” the warning added.
The Australian embassy for its part warned its citizens and asked its employees to leave the embassy’s building at 4pm, while denying having any information about possible security incidents, al-Akhbar said.
The embassy, however, noted that “there could be increasing traffic congestion due to the start of the motorbike rally at 5pm, which will begin in Beirut’s southern suburbs to renew allegiance for Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,” the newspaper added.
“These motorbikes are expected to roam most areas,” the daily said.
Later in the day, a scooter rally by Hizbullah supporters headed from Beirut's southern suburbs toward Tayyouneh amid measures by the army on Ain al-Remmaneh's entrances, MTV reported.
Earlier, media reports said that “military and security forces will take the necessary measures to prevent the rally from deviating from its peaceful nature.”
Unconfirmed media reports meanwhile said that “Beirut’s residents are asking the army to prevent the Nasrallah supporters scooter rally from leaving Dahiyeh and heading to Beirut this afternoon in order to avoid a worse scenario.”
Unconfirmed reports also said that there was “an unusual movement in the Ain al-Remmaneh area” after the reports about the scooter rally emerged.
The rally is supposed to coincide with an electoral speech by Nasrallah at 5pm.
Source: Naharnet
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