AMAL, Hizbullah to Address Illegal Construction as 2 People Killed in Clash over Violations in Tyre
Two people were killed and others wounded in a clash with armed forces as the latter were thwarting illegal construction in the southern city of Tyre.
The National News Agency reported on Thursday that residents prevented the security forces from performing their duty, which led them to open fire, killing a Palestinian Wissam al-Tawil and Lebanese Ali Nasser.
The residents retaliated by setting an ISF vehicle on fire and blocking the road with burning tires.
The ISF issued a statement later on Thursday clarifying the morning’s clashes, explaining that as an ISF force, backed by the Lebanese army, was heading to thwart a construction violation in Tyre, it was obstructed by a large number of youths who pelted them with rocks.
Gunshots were also fired at the security forces from nearby residential neighborhoods, forcing them to retaliate by firing into the air into order to intimidate the protestors.
Four people were injured as a result and they were later transported to hospital where two of them passed away.
The protestors also burned three military vehicles, said the statement.
It announced that a joint committee from the army and ISF supervised by the military judiciary was formed to investigate the incident.
LBC reported that another clash broke out between security forces and residents in the Ouzai area, adding that residents have surrounded an ISF vehicle.
Journalists on the scene were also attacked and accused of incitement by the residents who also surrounded them as the security forces attempted to free them.
Caretaker Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi contacted President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, and the Hizbullah leadership, urging them to put an end to public property violations, especially those near Beirut's international airport.
He demanded that strict measures be taken against all violators.
NNA later reported that a meeting was held between ISF officials and party and municipal figures at the Tyre military barracks in order to study ways to address this morning's clash.
They agreed to form a committee to inspect the death of the two residents.
Meanwhile, AMAL and Hizbullah officials and the head of the Dahiyeh municipalities Mohammed al-Khansa held a meeting on Wednesday to address random construction in Beirut's southern suburbs.
They condemned in a statement all construction violations, especially illegal construction on public property, most notably in the areas surrounding the airport, which they said may harm public interests.
They added that all violators should be brought to justice.
Furthermore, the gatherers called on the security forces to thwart violations through legal means, urging them to remove any violation as soon as it is discovered.
"The southern suburbs have and will always be open to official institutions, especially security ones, to carry out their duties, implement the law, and protect national interests," they stressed.
Security forces earlier this month launched a crackdown on illegally-constructed buildings on public lands, particularly in Hizbullah-controlled areas in the south of Beirut and in southern Lebanon.
On Wednesday, a number of women and youths prevented security forces from stopping a construction violation on public property in the Tyre province, by blocking the road with metal barriers.
As the security forces approached, the residents unleashed bees upon them from hives in their possession, forcing them to retreat without thwarting the violation.
On Tuesday, an ISF patrol was pelted with rocks by residents in Tyre as it was attempting to stop another violation.
Six policemen were injured Monday when they were attacked by residents of a southern suburb of Beirut as their patrol tried to vacate illegal houses in area.
Lebanon's pro-Western political alliance, led by Saudi-backed caretaker premier Saad Hariri, has hinted that the Iranian-backed Hizbullah had consciously turned a blind eye on the constructions.
Hizbullah has defended itself against the charges and urged officials to "severely punish" such violations.
Source: Agence France Presse
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