2nd LD-Writethru: Protests erupt in Lebanon over FM's insult to Speaker

BEIRUT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Around 100 supporters of Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri blocked the main road through Beirut's Mar Elias area in response to a leaking video showing offensive words by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil towards the speaker.

The video footage, which was disclosed Sunday, showed the foreign minister calling Berri a "thug" in a closed meeting.

Protesters set fire to tires and garbage cans, stopping traffic near a Free Patriotic Movement office in Mar Elias and chanting slogans to voice support for Berri.

The supporters cut off roads in Corniche al-Mazraa leading to Mar Elias, local media reported. They also blocked roads in Bechara al-Khoury and near Salim Salam.

A Lebanese army force arrived at Mar Elias's main street in order to disperse the crowd and resume traffic.

Meanwhile, protesters also blocked Riaq-Baalbek road, with the security forces working to reopen it.

For its part, Hezbollah issued a statement lashing out at the remarks by Bassil.

"We flatly reject the remarks insulting House Speaker Nabih Berri," Hezbollah said, reiterating its admiration and respect for Berri.

"This rhetoric raises tension and drags the country into unnecessary risks," the statement added.

"We call (on the government) to address this situation immediately, with the highest sense of wisdom and responsibility," it concluded. Enditem