90 Lebanese Escape Bahrain Violence

Around 90 Lebanese arrived at Beirut airport on Thursday night escaping violence in Bahrain where the government is cracking down on anti-government protesters.

An Nahar daily said Friday that a Middle East Airlines plane landed at Rafik Hariri international airport with 132 people on board. Among them were the 90 Lebanese nationals and several Bahrainis and Syrians.

The violence in the strategic kingdom has alarmed Washington and sparked furious condemnation from Iran, Shiite leaders in Iraq and Hizbullah.

Security forces firing tear gas and shotguns cleared out a pro-democracy tent city at Pearl Square on Wednesday in the worst day of violence since activists took to the streets last month.