Lebanese physicians observe strike today

The chairman of the Lebanese Dentists Union announced on Tuesday that some 9,000 doctors will observe today a strike in opposition to the release of a military judicial sentence against three civilian physicians under charges of "neglect," in the death of a military man.

AFP said the court sentenced dentists Youssef Maghamis, Nazir Ali Noufel and Johad Ramez Assaf to imprisonment for five days each on the claim of being behind the death of soldier Khalil Muhammad from his malfunctioning pancreas, after the three doctors treated him last month.

The court released the three doctors, as they had actually spent more than five days in custody.

The physicians union said the medical sides concerned should have studied the case before any judicial measure was taken. It added that during the strike, the doctors will only treat emergency cases.