Blazing Tires Block Traffic Across the Old Airport Road

An angry crowd protesting against soaring prices and power cuts blocked traffic with blazing tires across the old road leading to Beirut airport on Tuesday, but Army troops intervened and reopened the facility.

 

A security source said about 200 people emerged from the Hizbullah-stronghold of south Beirut, carrying rubber tires to which they set fire and tossed them to the road, blocking traffic.

 

The crowd chanted slogans against the government of majority Prime Minister Fouad Saniora in the second such practice in as many days.

 

Army troops intervened and dispersed the crowd as civil defense water tankers extinguished the blaze and re-opened the road, the source added.

 

He said no casualties were reported. 
 
 
Picture: REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON)