At least five were killed in Beirut Jan. 27 in clashes between Lebanese soldiers and young Shi'ite residents protesting electricity cuts. Hezbollah issued a statement holding "the de facto authorities" fully responsible for "every drop of blood shed," and demanding that the army identify "who opened fire on innocent citizens demanding their social rights." Meanwhile, the 14 March coalition, which supports the western-backed government, accused "forces of the Syrian-Iranian axis" of "detonating the situation and stirring up dangerous disturbances." It said the opposition were "acting on the orders of the Syrian-Iranian axis, which is openly inciting disorder, and exploiting economic problems..." (BBC, Jan. 28)

See our last post on Lebanon.