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February 05, 2006

Danish Consulate In Beirut Torched

Demonstrators torch the Danish Consulate in Beirut, Lebanon. (epa)

5 February 2006 -- Demonstrators in the Lebanese capital Beirut today set fire to a building housing the Danish diplomatic mission to protest the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a number of European newspapers.


Lebanese security forces fired shots in the air and used water cannon in a vain attempt to prevent the crowd reaching the Danish Consulate.


Demonstrators threw stones at police, set several cars on fire, and rampaged through a Christian section of the city.


At least 18 people were reported injured in the disturbances.


The incident follows riots on 4 February in the Syrian capital, Damascus, in which the Danish and Norwegian embassies were set ablaze.


The Danish government has called on its nationals to leave Lebanon.


(Reuters, AFP, AP)


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