Hundreds of protesters have formed a human chain in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Sunday, demanding the current leadership resign. It comes a week after a car bomb killed a top intelligence officer.
Organized by the March 14 youth movement, the human shield moved on the Prime Minister’s office, demanding his resignation and the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador. At least 13 people have died in clashes between pro- and anti-Syria factions since the assassination of Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan on October 19.The murder further ignited political tensions between the allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his country's opposition groups.Lebanon has been split over its neighbor’s conflict. The Shiite Hezbollah and its affiliates, who dominate the government, support the Assad government, while the Sunni-led opposition wants to see the rebels succeed in the Syrian conflict.Since al-Hassan was a Sunni, many were quick to point to Syria’s involvement in the assassination, leading to a number of sectarian clashes and rallies demanding the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati step down.“We are here to tell the government that you cannot continue covering up for the killer, you cannot continue facilitating the killing. The government should leave and relieve the Lebanese people," Jamal Al-Jarrah, a Lebanese MP told AP.