BEIRUT, Aug 9, 01 (CWNews.com) - Lebanese security forces arrested 11 more Christians on Thursday for protesting against the arrest of more than 250 Christians this week for staging anti-Syrian protests.
Dozens of followers of the Free Patriotic Movement had been protesting outside the Justice Palace in Beirut when the latest arrest occurred. Many Lebanese Christians oppose the continuing political and economic influence and control by Syria over its neighbor.
Witnesses said some 20 plainclothes members of army intelligence tried to arrest the protesters outside the Justice Palace. The protesters resisted, and a clash soon erupted. Some of the protesters were beaten, and at least 11 of them, including a girl and a lawyer, were detained. A few others were wounded and taken to the hospital.
A Military Court on Thursday sentenced 10 of those supporters to between five and 45 days in jail; eight others were released. They faced charges of "defaming the president and damaging the reputation of the Syrian army and disturbing relations with a sisterly country."
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
9. august 2001