A sonic bomb was thrown at demonstrators gathering in Kornich al-Mazraa in Lebanon, wounding at least five people, among them two soldiers, ahead of a labour protest Wednesday.

- 07 / 05 / 2008 10:59

A sonic bomb was thrown at demonstrators gathering in Kornich al-Mazraa in Lebanon, wounding at least five people, among them two soldiers, ahead of a labour protest Wednesday.

Dozens of pro-Syrian opposition followers, mainly from the Shiite Hezbollah movement and its ally Amal, blocked roads leading to Beirut a few hours ahead of the scheduled protest about the high cost of living by Lebanon's main labour union.

The strike and anti-government protests forced Beirut's international airport to suspend flights, airport officials said.

They said 32 flights to and from Lebanon's only civilian airport had either been delayed or cancelled.

Airport staff were due to join the strike from 0600 to 1200 GMT.