Beirut - Thousands of supporters of the Lebanese Shiite movements Amal and Hezbollah gathered Monday to mourn six of their comrades who died during clashes with the Lebanese army over the weekend. Lebanese army soldiers were seen in a high state of alert to prevent protestors from fanning into the streets and provoking violence.
Wrapped with Amal's green flags, the coffins were carried to burial as the crowd called for an investigation into their deaths.
Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, who is a member of the ruling majority, declared Monday a day of mourning and ordered all schools and universities shut in an apparent attempt to prevent further clashes between rival political groups.
"This is an hour of sadness. Our country is passing through the most dangerous of times," Seniora was quoted as saying.
Troops were out in force, setting up checkpoints along roads leading from the mainly Shiite neighbourhoods of southern Beirut, a hotbed of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, to Christian areas of the capital.
The scene reminded many Lebanese of the beginning of the 1975-1990 civil war as the first line of demarcation at the time was in the same area.
"This is the same scene we saw in 1975 when the civil war broke out in the streets of Beirut, this is a dangerous reminder," commented one Christian resident of Ain Roumneh, the area that witnessed heavy violence on Sunday.
"The country is now opened on all options," said analyst Nabil Haythem. "The situation is taking a downturn.
Nine people were killed in Sunday's violence, hospital sources said, adding that about 49 people were also injured.
Lebanon has been in a deep political crisis since the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri in February 2005.
Sunday's violence broke out after youths protesting power cuts in the Shiite district of Mar Mikhial entered the nearby Christian area of Ain Roumneh and began throwing stones and setting cars on fire.
In one incident late Sunday, at least seven people were wounded in the Ain Roumneh area by a hand grenade.
The situation deteriorated after two members of Amal movement were killed by an unknown shooters. Protestors then fanned into several neighbourhoods, setting tyres ablaze and briefly shutting down the main road leading to the airport.
Hezbollah, which is leading the pro-Syrian opposition against the Western-backed ruling coalition, blamed the government for Sunday's unrest.
"We call on the army to clearly explain which side is behind the killing of these innocent people," said Hezbollah in a statement.
The violence took place as Arab League foreign ministers concluded a meeting to try to find a solution that will lead rival Lebanese politicians to to fill the post of president, which has been vacant since November 24.
Similar protests took place in Lebanon on January 23 resulting in street clashes during which three people were killed and dozens others wounded.
