MESSAGE
| DATE | 2005-03-19 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Syrian News
|
A car bomb explosion rocked a predominantly Christian suburb of the
Lebanese capital Beirut shortly after midnight, injuring at least nine
people. VOA's Sonja Pace went to the blast site in the Jedeydeh
neighborhood Saturday morning and has this report.
The charred, twisted remains of the car still lay in the middle of the
street, stunned residents sifted through the rubble and swept up debris
and shards of broken glass that littered the street and sidewalks.
Lebanese army officers inspect car destroyed by bomb, Saturday
Lebanese army officers inspect car destroyed by bomb, Saturday
The bomb had been placed under a car on what is normally a busy shopping
street of Jedeydeh. It went off shortly after midnight, shattering
windows and badly damaging the façade of the closest apartment building.
By mid-morning Saturday the site was cordoned off, but people came from
nearby to have a look.
One local shopkeeper who gave his name only as Hani, says he heard the
explosion, but thought it was farther away, in downtown Beirut. He said
his sister called him to tell him the bomb went off right near his shop.
"I have a sister right in the neighborhood, so she called me about one
o'clock. She said the bomb exploded here. I came," he said.
PACE: What happened to your shop?
"The door was out and all the glass here," Hani said.
Police were searching for clues to determine who was behind the bombing.
Even though there were no immediate answers, many people here have their
suspicions.
Lebanese saleswomen clean up shop, damaged by car bomb, Saturday
Lebanese saleswomen clean up shop, damaged by car bomb, Saturday
Shopkeeper Hani thinks this is a political message from either Syria or
Syrian supporters, who don't want Syrian troops to leave Lebanon.
"You know that we have a foreign army in Lebanon since 30 years and they
were always saying they if we go out of Lebanon, the war will start
again in Lebanon. Now, they are going out. That's a message, I think
so," he said. " But, believe me we are all Lebanese and we will stand
and nothing will take us down again. We will never go to war again
between each other."
Saturday's bombing has again raised concerns among many Lebanese about
the prospect of renewed violence in their country - especially after
last month's massive car bomb which killed the popular former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri.
Political opposition groups and many average Lebanese accused the
Syrians and Lebanon's pro-Syrian government of involvement - accusations
both authorities vehemently denied. But, the assassination has sparked a
political crisis in Lebanon and massive street demonstrations both for
and against Syria's presence in the country.
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