Education Minister Khaled Qabbani said Sunday that students should not be dragged into Lebanon's political crisis, three days after riots spilled out of a Beirut university campus, killing four people.
"I call upon all sides and political forces not to implicate schools and universities in dangerous conflicts," Qabbani said on LBC television, adding that political tension had become evident "particularly in universities."
Four people were killed and 169 injured Thursday in street clashes triggered by a row in a cafeteria at Beirut Arab University between government supporters and opponents.
The Hizbullah-led opposition has been campaigning since Dec. 1 to force the resignation of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government.
Tension escalated Tuesday when a nationwide general strike called by the Opposition brought Lebanon to a standstill and turned violent in some places.
Qabbani announced Saturday that private and public schools and universities, shut since Thursday's disturbances, would remain closed until Wednesday, the day after the Shiite religious holiday of Ashura -- a public holiday in Lebanon.(Naharnet-AFP) (AP photo shows Lebanese troops standing guard as school students take the bus after a mob destroyed the vehicles windshield in Thursday's fighting.)
Beirut, 28 Jan 07, 20:07
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