France expresses "grave concern" over the violence in Lebanon

Soldiers from the Lebanese army deployed in Beirut following the recent shooting incidents

France expressed Thursday its concern over the bloody violence that took place in Lebanon against the backdrop of the investigation into the Beirut port explosion last year, and called on all parties to calm down, according to Agence France-Presse.

"France is deeply concerned about the recent obstruction of the proper functioning of the investigation and the violence that occurred in this context," the foreign ministry said in a statement. France calls on all parties to calm down.

A spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry stressed that the Lebanese judiciary must be able to investigate the explosion in the port of Beirut in an independent and impartial manner.

A shooting took place in Beirut today, killing six people and wounding at least 30, during a demonstration by supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal movement against the judicial investigator in the Beirut port explosion case, in an escalation that threatens to plunge the country into a new crisis.

In recent days, Judge Tariq Bitar was subjected to a campaign of pressure led by "Hezbollah", to object to his summoning of former ministers and security personnel for questioning as part of the investigations he is conducting, which included calls for his removal.

The Lebanese "Hezbollah" said Thursday that gunmen from the Christian "Lebanese Forces" party attacked protesters from the group and the "Amal Movement".

And Hezbollah said in a statement: "Groups of the (Lebanese Forces) deployed in the neighboring neighborhoods and on the rooftops of buildings and practiced direct sniping operations to premeditated killing," according to what was quoted by the "Reuters" news agency.

Six people were killed and at least 30 wounded, Thursday, as a result of shooting during a demonstration by supporters of "Hezbollah" and "Amal Movement" against the judicial investigator in the case of the Beirut port explosion, in an escalation that threatens to plunge the country into a new crisis.

In recent days, Judge Tariq Bitar was subjected to a campaign of pressure led by "Hezbollah", to object to his summoning of former ministers and security personnel for questioning as part of the investigations he is conducting, which included calls for his removal.

Al-Tayouneh roundabout, tens of meters from the "Palace of Justice", where Bitar's office is, turned into a war scene that witnessed heavy shooting and heavy shells and the spread of snipers on the roofs of buildings, despite the presence of army units and their rapid deployment in the area, which is one of the former lines of contact. During the Civil War (1975 - 1990).

The shooting began suddenly as dozens of protesters, supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, gathered in front of the Palace of Justice.