Pressure grows for Mikati to resign

Protestors continued to clash with Lebanese security forces Beirut – Georges Chahine For the third day running protestors continued to clash with Lebanese security forces following the assassination of a top security chief in a car bombing on Friday. Security forces have fired machine gun warning shots and tear gas at hundreds of protestors who have tried to storm the government’s headquarters in Beirut. The fighting broke out at Sunday’s funeral for security chief Wissam al-Hassan, who died along with his bodyguard in the car bomb, which many blame on neighbouring Syria. The 47-year-old brigadier general was a powerful opponent of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The trouble flared after protesters called for the resignation of Lebanon’s Prime Najib Mikati, who they say is too close to Syria. 
Clashes have expanded into Riva, Baqqar, Shaarani, Mankubeena and Tripoli. The Youth of Future movement staged a sit in near Najib Mikati’s house in Tripoli and calling for his resignation.
The country’s Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said trying to overthrow the government from “the streets” is totally unacceptable.
“It’s forbidden to overthrow the government from the street. Do not lose your compass, and do not get pushed away from the state, trust the government or withdraw the trust only through parliament as stated in the constitution,” he added.
A girl has reportedly been killed and six injured in Tripoli and another two youths died after being shot on Rumaila Road.
In the neighbourhoods of Jadidah and Barbir and the surrounding areas the sounds of gun shots continue to be heard.