BEIRUT, Jan 14 (Reuters) – Lebanese riot police fired smoke grenades and sprayed water on Saturday to disperse dozens of students protesting against the visit of senior U.S. diplomats to Beirut. The protest turned nasty when security forces tried to clear protesters who gathered outside the government headquarters ahead of a visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch. Some of the protesters, waving Lebanese flags and carrying placards protesting against U.S. influence in Lebanon and the Middle East, pelted police with stones. "Welch is not welcome in Lebanon," one placard read. Welch, who met with several Lebanese officials on Saturday, is due to hold talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at the government headquarters.
Welch and U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams began a trip to the region last week.
Their visit had been postponed because of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke but the United States has resumed efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without him.
The United States is assailed in much of the Arab world for what many perceive as its pro-Israeli stance.
But Washington has pledged to support Lebanon since Syria pulled its forces out of its smaller neighbour in April amid intense international and local pressure following the killing of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
A U.N. inquiry has already implicated Syrian officials in the murder. Damascus denies any role.
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Bassam Kantar the brother of Samir Kantar, who is the longest serving Lebanese prisoner held in Israel since 1979, shouts anti-Israeli and American slogans next to a poster featuring U.S. President George W. Bush carrying an axe with the number 1559 which relates to the U.N. Resolution 1559 , which calls for Hezbollah’s disarm, ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 29 minutes ago
A protester, supporter of the militant Hezbollah group, shouts anti-American slogans while another holds a picture showing U.S. President George W. Bush during a protest ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youth chanted anti-American slogans in a downtown square Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch, who was in town to reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon‘s unity and sovereignty. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. Barriers prevented the crowd from marching on to the building where Welch was to meet with Saniora. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 34 minutes ago
A protester, supporter of the militant Hezbollah group protester, holds an anti-U.S President George W. Bush placard as he shouts slogans against the U.S. ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youths chanted anti-American slogans in a downtown square Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch, who was in town to reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon‘s unity and sovereignty. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. Barriers prevented the crowd from marching on to the building where Welch was to meet with Saniora. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 49 minutes ago
A protester, supporter of the militant Hezbollah group protester, waves a stick as she shouts anti-American slogans during a demonstartion against the visiting Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch to lebanon, in Beirut, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 protesters chanted anti-American slogans Saturday ahead of a meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Welch.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 53 minutes ago
Protesters, supporters of the militant Hezbollah group, wave Lebanese flags as they are sprayed with water cannons during clashes with riot police ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youth chanted anti-American slogans in a downtown square Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch, who was in town to reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon‘s unity and sovereignty. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. Barriers prevented the crowd from marching on to the building where Welch was to meet with Saniora. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 50 minutes ago
Protesters, supporters of the militant Hezbollah group, react after riot police fired tear gas and sprayed water cannons during clashes ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youth chanted anti-American slogans in a downtown square Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch, who was in town to reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon‘s unity and sovereignty. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. Barriers prevented the crowd from marching on to the building where Welch was to meet with Saniora. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 57 minutes ago
Lebanese riot police stand guard in front of goverment house, seen in the background, where a meeting was held between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youth chanted anti-American slogans in a downtown square Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch, who was in town to reiterate U.S. support for Lebanon‘s unity and sovereignty. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. Barriers prevented the crowd from marching on to the building where Welch was to meet with Saniora.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 0 minute ago
A protester, supporter of the militant Hezbollah group protester, holds anti-American placard in front of Lebanese troops during a demonstartion against a visit by the Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch to Lebanon, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving youth chanted anti-American slogans Saturday ahead of a meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Welch. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Protesters, supporters of the militant Hezbollah group, take cover behind a banner as they are sprayed by water cannons during clashes with riot police ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving protesters chanted anti-American slogans Saturday ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
A protester, supporter of the militant Hezbollah group protester, covers his mouth with a Lebanese flag as protection from the tear gas fired by security forces, ahead of a meeting between Lebanon‘s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006. About 200 flag-waving protesters chanted anti-American slogans Saturday, ahead of a meeting between Saniora and Welch. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
