Lebanese police clash with anti-US. protesters

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese riot police fired smoke
grenades and sprayed water on Saturday to disperse dozens of
students protesting against the visit of senior U.S. diplomats
to Beirut.

The protest turned nasty when security forces tried to
clear protesters who gathered outside the government
headquarters ahead of a visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State David Welch.

Some of the protesters, waving Lebanese flags and carrying
placards protesting against U.S. influence in Lebanon and the
Middle East, pelted police with stones.

“Welch is not welcome in Lebanon,” one placard read.

Welch, who met with several Lebanese officials on Saturday,
is due to hold talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
at the government headquarters.

Welch and U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott
Abrams began a trip to the region last week.

Their visit had been postponed because of Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke but the United States has
resumed efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
without him.

The United States is assailed in much of the Arab world for
what many perceive as its pro-Israeli stance.

But Washington has pledged to support Lebanon since Syria
pulled its forces out of its smaller neighbor in April amid
intense international and local pressure following the killing
of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A UN inquiry has already implicated Syrian officials in the
murder. Damascus denies any role.