Lebanese opposition defies ban, government denies resignations

Huge number of Lebanese citizens continued gathering in al-Shuhadaa ( martyrs) square in the downtown of Beirut, few hours before the enforcement of the government curfew decision on gatherings and demonstrations.

Supporters of the opposition whose number tolled 3,000 penetrated through the security belt which was installed by the army and police forces around the area.

Despite the embargo, leaders of the opposition vowed to proceed forward in the plan to organize a demonstration today in coincidence with a session for the parliament over the assassination of Rafic Hariri.

The minister of the interior Suleiman Franjieh gave his orders to all security departments to prevent the demonstrations, and the army issued a statement calling on the citizens not to demonstrate.

Meantime, the office of the Lebanese prime minister denied in a statement to al-Jazeera TV news on any resignation of any minister in the Lebanese government.

The official denial came after member of the Lebanese opposition Naela Mu'wad announced before the gathering in the downtown of Beirut that three ministers submitted their resignation.

The ministers concerned are the ministry of energy, Maurice Sahnawi, the minister of the economy Adnan al-Qassar, and the minister of social administration Ibrahim al-Daher, the latter denied, himself, that he had resigned.