Protests paralyse Lebanon

January 23, 2007

The Hezbollah-led opposition called the strike, escalating a campaign to force the resignation of the western-backed government. Protesters sealed off major roads in the capital with burning tyres and stones. Similar demonstrations were reported in other parts of Lebanon. Scuffles between rival supporters left scores injured. The strike comes just two days before an international donor conference in Paris which the Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora hopes will bring billions of dollars of aid to the war-shattered country.