Troops with Rifle Butts Curb Families of Lebanese Prisoners in Syria

Army troops and riot police made repeated baton charges to stop irate families and relatives of Lebanese prisoners in Syria from storming into the Lebanese parliament as it opened a vote of confidence debate in Lebanon's new government Tuesday. Screaming protestors were clubbed down to the ground at downtown Beirut's Star Square of the parliament building as the clash flared into a fist fight and troops used rifle butts to subdue the demonstrators. Waving national flags and banners of Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces and Gen. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, the demonstrators marched onto Star Square from the premises of the U.N. House, where they have been staging a sit-in since Sunday. Nadim Gemayel, son of slain LF founder President-Elect Bashir Gemayel, who led the march, was roughed up during the 20-minute confrontation and was seen on TV screens shielding his face from club-wielding riot police. The clash outside touched off an opposition uproar inside the parliament and Speaker Berri consequently sent word to the parliament's guards to be lenient with the protestors.