Beirut braced for street violence
Related articles
Lebanese special police forces tightened security around the government palace and other official buildings yesterday amid growing fears that the country's political crisis could descend into street battles.
Tensions are mounting over a UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of the former prime minister Rafik Hariri. He was killed along with 22 others in a massive truck bombing on Beirut's waterfront. Many fear that the Shia militant group Hezbollah – widely expected to be named in the indictments – will react violently if accused. The UN court filed a sealed draft indictment on Monday, touching off a process many fear could provoke new bloodshed nearly six years after the assassination.
The new measures follow the departure from Beirut of Qatari and Turkish mediators after two days of talks that apparently failed to resolve the differences between Lebanon's main rival factions and bring them back together in a coalition government.
Hezbollah denies any role in Mr Hariri's killing and forced the collapse of the government last week when Prime Minister Saad Hariri – the son of the slain leader – refused to renounce the tribunal and pull Lebanon's funding for the court.
-
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?
-
Justin Bieber's unfinished monkey business
-
World news in pictures
-
Cameron goes to war with press over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur
-
Revealed: Eerie new images show forgotten French apartment that was abandoned at the outbreak of World War II and left untouched for 70 years
- 1 Tears and cheers as David Beckham ends glittering career after helping PSG to final win
- 2 Heading for America? Prepare for the longest US immigration queues ever
- 3 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 4 Cameron goes to war with press over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur
- 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
SAP FI-CA Consultant - up to £58k
£50000 - £58000 per annum + Benefits and Bonus: Progressive Recruitment: SAP F...
PHP/ Drupal Developer - £35k - WC
£30000 - £40000 per annum + BENS: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal Developer A ...
C# WEB DEVELOPER
£45000 - £50000 per annum + bens: Progressive Recruitment: C# WEB DEVELOPER Le...
WPF Developer (C#, VB.Net) - North East - 6 Months
£240 - £260 per day: Progressive Recruitment: WPF Developer (C#, VB.Net) North...
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes
Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save






