Protestors urge Lebanese PM to step down

Anti-government protests in Lebanon have resumed with renewed force. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Beirut on Sunday. Extra security was brought in around the prime minister's complex.

Hezbollah supporters, who have been protesting for ten days now, have claimed they will continue the demonstration until Prime Minister Fouad Siniora steps down.

However, Mr Siniora seems to be holding firm and keeps refusing to budge an inch by ceding to demands to form a unity government with Hezbollah.

Mr Siniora  made a brief appearance via video link outside of the Prime Ministerial palace, addressing a congregation which gathered to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the killing of the prominent anti-Syrian journalist Gibran Tueni.

“The Arab world has not witnessed as many political assassinations in its contemporary history as Lebanon has. In both categories, politicians and journalists, they were all killed while standing up for freedom, for patriotism, for the integrity of the word and its position. For the Lebanese would except no life that is less than a life of freedom,” Mr Siniora said.

The daughter of the killed journalist expressed support to the prime minister saying her father’s murder was the very reason why the government should stand strong.

“The principles of independence will not collapse, we will not allow a civil war and we will not allow more killing and more assassination,” Gibran Tueni’s daughter declared.