'A hellish night' in Beirut
2008-05-09 12:53
Beirut - "Everyone is running away," Beirut resident Imad said on Friday as Hezbollah gunmen roamed the streets of the Lebanese capital, in the grip of deadly gun battles between feuding Sunni and Shi'ite factions.
Opposition Shi'ite militants have seized control of swathes of west Beirut, including Sunni strongholds and pro-government media outlets, on the third day of fighting that threatens to plunge Lebanon into a full-blown civil war.
"Last night was surreal and chaotic... I am still in shock that this is happening in Beirut," said Rasha al-Jundi, 24, who lives in the usually bustling Hamra business district.
"The bangs were so loud. They shook the whole building... You would hear the shooting of different kinds of weapons, hand guns, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades."
Imad, a 35-year-old businessman who lives in the Ras An-Nabaa area of predominantly Muslim west Beirut, said opposition militants had "fired at least 150 rockets. They sent us an army.
"One woman and her child were killed by a rocket as they were trying to escape. Between every three or four buildings you would see Hezbollah guards wearing yellow armbands. They have taken over the whole area."
Fears of new conflict
The fighting has stoked fears of a new sectarian conflict after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused the government of making a declaration of war by planning a crackdown on its communications network.
People rushed to the few stores that remained open to stockpile on food and other basic supplies, with all stores and businesses except for the occasional market or pharmacy shut.
Others remained trapped in their homes as armed militants patrolled their streets, where sporadic shooting could still be heard.
The loud roar of military tanks rolling by could be heard, but the army has been ordered not to get involved in the fighting to maintain its neutrality in the multi-confessional nation.
Rima, a resident of the Karakol al-Druze district in west Beirut, said: "It was a hellish night. The armed militants were everywhere shooting all over the place."
No route for escape
The Sunni area of Tareeq al-Jadeedeh saw heavy fighting between militias, but the army entered to allow people to flee.
Ahmed, 30, who was heading to the mountains out of Beirut with his family said: "It was awful. We couldn't leave. The area is now empty of people leaving it to the militias to fight it out."
Air traffic was paralysed for a third straight day, while roads leading to Syria have been blocked and the Beirut port shut down, leaving the Lebanese no route for escape.
But in predominantly Christian east Beirut, life was going on as usual, in stark contrast to the west of the city.
Marie, 45, who owns a market, opened her doors for business on Friday. "I opened up because I need to live. If I sell one box of cigarettes, I can buy a box of medicine with it and today business is pretty normal."