Lebanon bans anti-Syria protest

Prominent Lebanese opposition leader Walid Jumblatt said on Sunday a protest over the assassination of former prime minister Rafic al-Hariri and against the Syrian-backed government would go ahead despite a ban. "Tomorrow residents of Beirut and those coming to it from across Lebanon will hold a sit-in in Martyrs' Square," opposition leaders said in a statement, issued shortly after the government announced the ban on Sunday.

Earlier, Lebanon's Interior Ministry said it had banned protests on Monday to avoid trouble on a day when opponents of the Syrian-backed government had called a protest and one-day strike to coincide with a parliamentary debate on the killing. A statement from the ministry, cited by Reuters, called on the security forces "to take all necessary steps to preserve security and order and prevent demonstrations and gatherings on Monday."