A Hezbollah gunman fires a rocket propelled grenade during clashes with pro-government supporters in a street in Beirut May 8, 2008.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIRUT, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and at least 35 injured in a gunfight during a funeral ceremony in a Sunni neighborhood west of Beirut on Saturday, bringing the death toll of Lebanese riots to 24, local LBC TV reported.

    The gunbattle erupted when some supporters of majority leader MP Saad Hariri were holding a funeral for a member of Hariri's Future Movement in Tarik Jedideh neighborhood of western Beirut, said the report.

Hezbollah supporters burn tyres and barricades on the main road leading to Beirut's International airport in Beirut May 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The pan-Arabic Al-Arabia TV reported that eyewitnesses saw gunmen of the Lebanese Parliament speaker's Amal Movement shooting at the funeral crowds, which was immediately denied by the Shiite group.

    Local NBN TV, mouthpiece of the opposition Amal Movement, said Al-Arabia office in Dubai reported dummy news for provocation and stirring up the already tense situation in Beirut.

    The deadly clashes ignited Wednesday one day after the Lebanese cabinet decided to cease the private communication network of Hezbollah, and remove the only international airport's security chief Gen. Wafik Shqaier for alleged links to Hezbollah.

    Hezbollah considered such decisions as "a declaration of war against the resistance."

    Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant for months since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down.

    The presidency deadlock deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears are mounting that failure in reaching a deal on the presidential candidate could result in more violence in the country.

Seniora: Lebanon not to fall under clashes

    BEIRUT, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora said Saturday that Lebanon will not fall under the current deadly clashes in the country.

    "Your country will not fall," Seniora pledged Lebanese in a live statement made in the government's headquarters in downtown Beirut, adding that Lebanese people will not return back to hegemony and terrorism. Full story

Eight killed, 40 wounded in Beirut clashes

    BEIRUT, May 8 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 40 wounded during three days of sectarian fighting in Beirut, Lebanese security sources said on Friday.

    The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that among the 40 injured, two were badly injured and their lives could suffer menace. Full story

UN Security Council urges calm, restraint in Lebanon

    UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council urged Lebanese parties on Thursday to exercise "calm and restraint" following the latest wave of violence.

    The council members expressed deep concern about the "current clashes and unrest in Lebanon, including the blocking of major roads and Beirut international airport," said a statement read out by Britain's UN ambassador John Sawers, the 15-member council's president. Full story

Rice reiterates U.S. support for Lebanese PM

    WASHINGTON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that the United States will continue supporting Lebanon's government led by Prime Minister Fuad Siniorato battle against opposition Hezbollah.

    In her statement read at a State Department briefing, Rice accused Hezbollah of "seeking to protect their state-within-a-state."  Full story

U.S.: Lebanon's Hezbollah must stop "disruptive activities"

    WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on Thursday that Lebanon's Hezbollah must stop its "disruptive activities" as the Shiite militant group is having conflicts with the government troops.

    "Hezbollah needs to make a choice: Be a terrorist organization or be a political party, but quit trying to be both. They need to stop their disruptive activities now," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. Full story

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait begin evacuating nationals from Lebanon

    BEIRUT, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Friday began evacuating their nationals from Lebanon, where riots sweeping the country have left at least eight dead over the past three days , local New TV reported.

    Kuwaiti Embassy in Lebanon evacuated the first batch of Kuwaiti nationals residing or studying in troubled Lebanon by land to neighboring Syria on Friday, said the report. Full story

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