The Daily Star - Islamist group holds environment-friendly protest in south Lebanon, June 26 2012

By Mohammed Zaatari

SIDON, Lebanon: Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya held a demonstration Monday night to denounce severe power cuts in this southern port city but refrained from burning tires, a phenomenon that has become the symbol of protest in Lebanon.

The demonstrators carried candles during their rally Monday night in Sidon’s main Nejmeh Square.

The head of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya in Sidon, Bassam Hammoud, warned of more protests unless power-rationing improved.

In a statement he read out before the crowd, Hammoud described Energy Minister Gebran Bassil as “irresponsible” and called on him to resign.

He also said the protest served an additional purpose, that of a message to the Lebanese youth.

“We feel your anger and resentment. However, we call on you not to punish your fellow citizens and worsen the crisis by burning tires and blocking roads,” Hammoud said.

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