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.

On Wednesday MAY 7th The General ( Aoun) has called for demonstrations. He will say peacefull but the last time he called for mass protests inconjunction with a general strike there was a lot of trouble. Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun called for demonstrations on Wednesday to oust the government.

In case you dont remember here is what happened the last time.

Here is what he said back in 2007 two days before the last labour General strike in partnership with Hezballah.

Sunday 17 Jan 2007 seen calls by General Aoun of the FPM and Franjieh made further calls for the strike and warned of unexpected actions. They hinted at road closures and made veiled treats about people being free to “try to get to work”. 

 The above picture was a result of most roads getting closed by burning tyres. Will we see a repeat of this on Wednesday only Aoun and Hezb know. The problem is that while Hezballah are very good at controlling their suporters Aoun has no control of his once he gets them on the streets.

Remember also that three days after the protest in Jan 2007 we had some of the worst street voilence in years resulting in a Curfew being called.

 

 

There is nothing better than coming back from holiday doing two days work and then having a day off. May 1st Labour Day . Can’t beat it.

For those working dont be too mad Im sure you will enjoy Monday.

 

As is usual the Holiday is too short to see everyone but still we have to make the effort and so most of the time we spend driving between A and Z . It is fun to see everyone and get offered cups of tea and cakes in so many houses. Shame on those of you who failed to have some sweet things to eat. I didn’t come home to get FAT but it is happening anyway.

I did not believe people when they said Irish people don’t go out drinking anymore but after these two weeks I see that they were telling the truth.

I can’t believe I’ve drank more tea than Guinness but in order to recover the situation I am not driving again  until Saturday and that means I have two nights to catch up and prepare for the return to Lebanon where they actually drink more. ( They being expats not Lebanese who are very sensible about the quantity they consume)

PS. George Hook questioned my honesty yesterday, he did not believe the drinking laws were more liberal in the Middle East but they are. In Lebanon there is virtually no closing in some pubs and in other Gulf countries closing is at least later than Irelands most nights of the week. Of course Saudi is the exception.

More to follow but here are some of my favourite pictures from today. At the end of the day berite is a very nice and friendly person and one of the better Politicians we have had never mind leader. But sure I am biased so make up your own minds.

Right so off we go to the big smoke. Drinks in Keoghs on South Annes Street from around six.  The its the Palace on Friday night.

Saturday its First Communion and a visit with Bertie.

I did find something good about Longford it the bord Na Mona musem and Lanesbourgh. Oh and remind me to tell you all about the great rush on Cornflour in the corner shop in Tarmonbarry.

Ok so I may be on holidays but is it really a holiday when your in Longford ? Previously I have refered to Longford as quicksand because the more you struggle the harder it is to get out.

Each time I come back to Ireland I begin to wonder if building a house in Longford was a mistake but surely there must be some good things about the place. If anyone knows of any let me know.

Tonight at least I will head to a good bar and have some good Guinness and better still there will be some music . And if I dont find anyone to chat too I at least will have Twenty Majors book which I found today after searching all of the bookstores in Longford. The book was on offer at € 8.99 but the cashier tried to charge me the full price of € 10.15, I think he may have been working undercover for Twenty. I reported him to the manager and got my €1.16 back and he got the sack. It seems he uses that old trick of charging the price on the back and not the special all the time so the manager was just waiting for someone to report him. That someone was me, and I don’t mind teling you that when the cashier shouted at me that he would kick my arse all the way back to Dublin , I smiled and told him make sure he got help so that I would get there faster.

Anyway Slan go Foil , feckim me tu amarach.