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| Beirut protests keep pressure on | Beirut protests keep pressure on |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Lebanon's political crisis is continuing as demonstrators remain camped in the centre of Beirut in an attempt to bring down the government. | Lebanon's political crisis is continuing as demonstrators remain camped in the centre of Beirut in an attempt to bring down the government. |
| Thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies are on the streets calling for Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government to go. | Thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies are on the streets calling for Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government to go. |
| Mr Siniora is refusing to step down to make way for a government that would include more of Hezbollah's allies. | Mr Siniora is refusing to step down to make way for a government that would include more of Hezbollah's allies. |
| Arab countries are stepping up their efforts to help resolve the crisis. | Arab countries are stepping up their efforts to help resolve the crisis. |
| The head of the Arab League, Amr Musa, is visiting Beirut to offer to mediate between the government and the opposition, and envoys from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Tunisia are offering their help. | The head of the Arab League, Amr Musa, is visiting Beirut to offer to mediate between the government and the opposition, and envoys from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Tunisia are offering their help. |
| Mr Musa said stability in Lebanon was vital to the whole region: | |
| Political ferment Lebanon crisis explained | Political ferment Lebanon crisis explained |
| "Lebanon is an important component of the Arab world and the Arab society of nations. The stability in Lebanon and moving towards a solution that would bring about a sure future for the country is one of our concerns." | |
| There were clashes between Shia and Sunni Muslims in Beirut on Saturday in which one man was died and at least 12 others were wounded. | |
| The dead man, a Shia Muslim, was shot in a Sunni district while returning home from the sit-in protest, officials said. | |
| Cabinet seats | |
| Protesters, led mainly by the Shia militant movement Hezbollah and its Christian allies, have been camping out in Beirut close to the prime minister's office since a huge anti-government rally on Friday. | |
| They accuse Mr Siniora of being too pro-Western and anti-Syrian and of failing the Lebanese people. | They accuse Mr Siniora of being too pro-Western and anti-Syrian and of failing the Lebanese people. |
| The current crisis was sparked last month when five Shia ministers and a Christian ally quit the government. | The current crisis was sparked last month when five Shia ministers and a Christian ally quit the government. |
| Hezbollah had asked for cabinet seats that would give it and its allies power of veto but the majority group in parliament refused. | Hezbollah had asked for cabinet seats that would give it and its allies power of veto but the majority group in parliament refused. |
| The political tension was increased two weeks later with the assassination of a leading anti-Syrian minister, Pierre Gemayel. | The political tension was increased two weeks later with the assassination of a leading anti-Syrian minister, Pierre Gemayel. |
| Marathon | Marathon |
| Despite the protests, several hundred runners took to the streets of Beirut for Lebanon's annual marathon. | Despite the protests, several hundred runners took to the streets of Beirut for Lebanon's annual marathon. |
| The organisers said the route had been changed slightly, and police and soldiers were deployed along the route. | The organisers said the route had been changed slightly, and police and soldiers were deployed along the route. |
| We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement... to rid us of an incapable government Sheikh Hassan NasrallahHezbollah leader Send us your comments | We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement... to rid us of an incapable government Sheikh Hassan NasrallahHezbollah leader Send us your comments |
| While the demonstrations have had the good nature of a pop concert or festival, this is an extremely serious crisis for Lebanon, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Beirut. | While the demonstrations have had the good nature of a pop concert or festival, this is an extremely serious crisis for Lebanon, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Beirut. |
| International concern has been growing. On Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier were in the Lebanese capital to express their support for the government. | |
| Mr Siniora has vowed to stand firm against a protest movement he has called an attempted coup. | |
| The US has denounced "threats of intimidation violence" in Lebanon and accused Syria and Iran of instigating the protests. | |
| The government came to office last year in the first election after the withdrawal of Syrian troops originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war. | |
| Syria was forced to withdraw its forces after massive protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. |