Lebanese peace activists form chain around Hezbollah-led protesters

Published: 2007-03-19

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- The sun-swept streets of downtown Beirut were a picture of contrasting images as hundreds of peace activists formed a human chain around grubby tents housing hundreds of Hezbollah-led protesters. For nearly four months, the city's financial and commercial heartland has been filled with the Hezbollah-led protesters, who have been calling for a new government with greater representation for the Shiite militant group's allies. The sit-in has forced the closure of dozens of trendy bars and chic boutiques, at the cost of several hundred jobs and an estimated $20 million a day. The camp's evening entertainment regularly entails blaring baritone anthems which laud Hezbollah fighters killed during last summer's 34-day war with Israel. But for a couple of hours March 17, upbeat guitar melodies replaced the war tunes as smiling children, students and women from across Lebanon's diverse religious spectrum formed a human chain, and called for a peaceful and unified Lebanon.

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