Lebanon bans planned protests

Lebanon banned protests planned for today but a key opposition figure promised to go ahead regardless with an anti-government demonstration over the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Lebanon's Interior Ministry said yesterday it had banned protests today 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 called on the security forces "to take all necessary steps to preserve security and order and prevent demonstrations and gatherings on Monday".

Figures from across Lebanon's disparate opposition movement have seized on public fury at Mr Hariri's killing to demand that Syria pull out its troops and intelligence services and that the Beirut government it backs resigns.