Bread Riot Blocks Traffic in South Beirut

January 14, 2008
Naharnet

Army and police patrols arrested eight agitators who were encouraging a crowd to block traffic in Beirut's southern suburb of Ghobeiry Monday following a rumor about an increase of bread price.

A security source said a crowd of about 100 people started fire to rubber tires and blocked traffic along the road linking the Kuwaiti Embassy traffic circle to Ghobeiry square chanting slogans against Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's majority government.

Army and police patrols rushed to the area, dispersed protestors and reopened the road to traffic after a closure of about one hour, a security source said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the protest, which was carried out despite denials of a price raise by the ministry of economy and the bakery union.

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