This was meant to be my first blog post using my new I phone baut the body of the blog did not post. Not sure why but there you go technology is not alway easy to figure out.

We are going to head back to beirut in the next hour to check out things and our apartment. I know that there was some fighting last night in Hamra at 2.00 AM but we will see what the lay of the land is. Fighting has eased off in the north and in the mountains but I don’t think it is entirely finished. Hezballah used some heavy artilery yesterday and again this will not be forgotten . They really have ruined the Resistence’s name . While onse people beleived their mantra about Israel now their true colours are being seen. They want power and a much larger control over the country.

Fighting is continuing along the Eastern border with Syria with the Masnaa crosing coming under fire today.

Ok we will keep you updated as we get back to beirut.

Sunday papers cover the story in Ireland.

Sunday Business Post  - Tom Felle

Sunday Independent

Saturdays Irish Times - Lucy Fielder

So the armed men are withdrawing back to their districts and homes, the guns and RPG will be put away for another day. Nothing has been resloved and the only thing that has changed is that Hezballah has now used its weapons against Lebanese and the Government know they can’t depend on the army.

What will happens over the next few days /weeks /months nobody knows but there will be a lot more distrust betwen the different religions. People living in west Beirut will not forget too soon what Hezballah and Amal have done to them. They may decided that they better be more prepared for the next time or they may decide to move area. Either way Beirut is going to be a little less welcoming than before Thursday.

I am still not sure when we can move back home as they say there will still be civil disobedience and only the know what that means. This is the second time I have had to move from my home because of War but atleast this time I did not have to go to Cyprus. Halat is mouch more enjoyable and the food is great.

Anway I found a link to this article from the Guardian ( HatTip: beirut spring) it describes the start of some of the street fighting.

‘We are just trying to clear the thorns from our side … by God we will finish them soon’

 

The Lebanese Army have decided to reverse the Govenments decision and leave the head of the Airport security in place. Regardsin the telephone network they said they would look into the matter.

Why exactly did we need the last few days if this was going to be the outcome.

In other News Hezballah have accused PSP party of Walid Jumblat of executing two of their men in a very inhumane way and kidnapping another. They are holding Jumblat personally responsible.

Map shows where the fighting is spreading too.

The number of people that have died is thankfully low but still at least 20 families have lost loved ones. Add to that over 100 people injured I know it pales in comparison to other recent disasters but when you live close to it the impact is greater.

I know one person that has lost a nephew and also someone esle that helped out the Irish band during Paddys weekend has also been killed. Whether they were involved or not is not really the point as they both have families and so im sure they are missing them today.

On to good news all of the Irish in Lebanon that I know which is a lot are all safe and while like me and the better half some of them have had to move from west Beirut its a small inconvinience compared to some.The Irish embasy in Egypt is monitoring the situation but currently the plan is to sit tight and see how events unfold. 

MacDara is now in Halat staying in a friends Parents house with a great view of the Mediteranian and this morning when I woke up and saw the sun shinning I could almost have convinced my self that everything was normal. But in reality the country is a tinder box and anything could happen. At the moment the Christians (Militias) are not involved and hopefully that will remain the case but if they do get involved things will get much more complicated.

One worring aspect is the number of news sources that have ben shut down by Hezballah including Future TV local and satelite, Two Radio stations and two newspapers. Also this morning a third radio station Radio Sifan which is Armenian has been set ablaze.

To finish with a funny story to prove My wife gives me a hard time.  Thursday night the RPGs were exploding and the guns firing all around our Apartment. The army warned us to stay in and keep low and we followed the advice. We were drinking  wine and chatting trying not to panic too much. After a while Mrs Mac went to bed with the warning for me not to do anything stupid (ie dont go out side to look).

A hour or two later as the battle continued I decided to…

Sorry about the delay had to run to bunker!

…  go to bed as the third botle of wine was now finished. The fighting was now louder indicating that it was closer and to add to that a storm has just started bringing rain and thunder. The thunder in Lebanon is always loud and given the night one could be excused for thinking it was bombs exploding. When I got to the bedroom Eadaoin said to me my god this is even worse than the War ( July 2006) so I informed her some of it was thunder . Its not raining is it ? she asked. Yes its just started. Ah Jesus she said go out and take in the clothes before they get wet. All thoughts of the bullets flying outisde gone from her head , no longer worried about her husbands safety. No her main concern now was the clothes not getting wet. Somethings never change. 

 

 

They are currently attacking Saad Hariri’s house in Qoreitem. It is bein attacked with RPG’s and Gun Fire. An Irish friend living in Hamra was describing the fighting around his house , the firgters were on the roofs surrounding his building firing at army and people. He says he took some good pictures so will try to get them later.

We have now moved and are currently away form the fighting. See New Map

Ok so we are leaving Army street as the fighting is very close and we hear that the Grand serail has been evacuated . time to move east.

We did not need the alarm this morning as the sound of gun fire woke us all up at six thirty. The fighting that we hoped would have stopped by morning resumed with gusto.

A Phone call form a friend informs me about the street fighting in his area he does not need too say how bad it as as I can hear over the phone. The an RPG hits a car outside his building exploding in flames.

The question now is whether to make a dash for safer places or stay put where we are and not risk moving.

upon hearing knocking on his door, Lebanese citizen gets up to see who’s there:

10.30 PM

The Fighting is continuing , its less than earlier but not by much. It does make me wonder where all the weapons and amunition came fromand where it was hidden before today. What makes one person point a gun at another with the purpose of killing them just because they live o a different street or pray in a slightly different way.

Then again who am I do ask ? We Irish had similar isues for a while.

 

7.00 PM

Was that just a bomb? The answer was in short no but it was an RPG. Since I posted this at 5.50 we have heard about another 100 of them . Each one getting closer , the gun fire is nearly as bad and there is more of it and its close. This is not a comforting experience.

5.42 PM

Well I don’t know what all that was but it sounded to me lke the start of the end. He Said ” we wont use our weapons except against our enemy. Then he said the government have declared war on us . He also accused them of being in colaboration with Israel, the Mosad, CIA and the FBI.

Am I worried ? Just a little!

4.00 PM

Has it already begun ? Listen Live

2.30 PM

The Lebanese Army Command has issued a statement saying that of the current situation extends as it is now then the unity of the Army is in serious doubt.

Well all I can say is that if the Army splits then we are all in for a rough ride.

2.15 PM

In normal countries religious leaders talk about love for you neighbours, Kindness and reconciliation. In Lebanon the opposite is normally the case. Here instead of trying to calm people down and help ensure the situation does not get out of control they are upping the ante and making each side more entrenched.

Last night The Grand Mufti of the Sunnis made statements that were more a call to arms than a call for peace . He said Sunni’s had enough and “he described Hizbullah as “armed gangs of outlaws that have carried out the ugliest attacks against the citizens and their safety,”" Today The higher Islamic shiite council said that the only solution was for the Govenment to back down and labled the govenmens decisions a crime and accused it of helping Israel. Now I may be stupid but that sounds like they are claiming the Govenment is the enemy and you tend to fight your enemy’s.

Surely The highest shiites in the land would not promote  civil War but again this is Lebanon so I guess they would.

11.30 AM

It sems Nasrallah is due to make a speach at four PM , I could call it a press conferance but that would entail him answering questions which he does not do. He merely preaches form the pulpit of self righteousness.

Maybe he will declare a new State , they already have an International airport and since they dont beleive in Democracy they dont need a Parliment but They do have the keys to one. Lets wait and see.

10.00 AM

So the country is on the Brink and its sort of a sureal experience as we sit here watching it and while we know we cant do anything to stop it we do wonder why the Lebanese public don’t seem to care. Access to their country has been cut off which is a major problem for the economy and in the end will effect jobs and the livelyhood of most people. Don’t forget this protest was meant to be about economic conditions but of course in reality it was never about peoples welfare and was only about Hezballahs insistance that Lebanon is there country to do with what they like.

What this country needs at the moment is a mass uprising of the people against their leaders of all shades but at the moment they seem love struck with the tired old positions of the Political elite. One blogger (Tantalus) yesterday posted this item and I think it sums up where we are heading.

Oh Civil War, where have you been for 18 years? I’ve missed you. Welcome back.

At the moment it looks like it could be just around the corner.

 

00.00 AM

Hezballah armed men have taken up positions on the baricades surrounding the Airport. Through out the night gun fire and fighting has erupted around Beirut.

The grand Mutfi has declared that Lebanese Sunni Muslims have had enough and that Hezballah are aiming to take over the state. All the signs are that the situation will continue to disintegrate.

6.30 PM

 

 

There is a chance that the govenment call a curfew tonight , the last one was in January 2007 and I was stuck drinking Middleton but this time I may have to open the Special bottle as I have no normal stuuf in the house.

5.30 PM

The latest news from the Airport is that some flights have landed but the passengers are now stuck there until safe passage can be arranged. Two more planes are due to land now and then it is assumed no more will arrive until the situation is solved. Two planes left form Departures anroun 5.30 but nomore are planned until at least tomorrow.

A second tent city is being set up at the baricades surrounding the Airport and so it is expected that the current crisis will continue until the Government either back down or agree a compromise with Hezballah. At the moment the government have not made any comment and Im guessing they are letting the rest of the country see how Hezballah act when they want to get there way.

It seems that Hezballah are saying ITS THERE WAY OR NO WAY which may not go down too well with their Christian partners even if AOun is BI polar and as crazy as a frog.

3.00 PM

There are now reports that an office of Saad Hariri’s Party has been destroyed by rocket propelled Grenades, Three injured. Rocket propelled Grenades are different form manual thrown grenades in that they are fired form a shoulder launcher. They are a favourite here in Beirut and are used quite often. Im not sure if that should surprise you or not but its amazing how common they are and how readily available.

Ok It also looks like the airport will remain closed for another few hours at least but there are two planes on route so it will be interesting to see if they land or get Diverted. The Airport was meant to reopen at 3.00 so its time for the Government to decide if they will take action to open the roads or allow Hezballah to control access to the Country.

I like this picture from the IRISH TIMES

1.00 PM

There have been numerous instances of clashes between rival groups around beirut. down by the Corniche the army was caught up in the fighting and gunfire has been heard. In Tayyouni Gun fire has also been heard.

The situation with Beirut International Airport is even more worrying as the signs are that the access roads may remain closed until a political solution is found regarding the Security head that the Government yesterday said wold be removed.  The Airport is located in an area knows as a Hezballah stronghold and as such they see it as there right to be involved with the security there.

Their stance seems to be you either leave our General in place or you have no Airport.

9.00 AM

The situation seems to be taking a nasty turn with two soliders and three civilians injured down on the see front when masked men threw a n explosive device towards them.

7.00 AM

The Airport roads and most of the roads leading to Beirut have been closed since 6.30 by protestors using burning tyres and in some cases stolen cars.

they always say that this is a voluntary protest but how exactly can people get to work if they cant travel. At the moment it looks like another day stuck in doors watching developments.

See Naharnet for more info:

General Strike
6:39 am Airport road closed with burning tires.
6:38 am Protestors went out of their tent city in downtown Beirut and closed the Ring overpass.
6:37 am Protestors close Salim Salam bridge, Shatilla area with stolen cars.
6:35 am Demonstrators burn wheels in Ouzai, Qassqass.