Clashes as strike grips Lebanon
Explosions and gunfire rang out across the Lebanese capital Beirut as opposition supporters held a one-day general strike calling for higher pay.
Strikers set up barricades of burning tyres on key routes to the port, airport and Beirut's commercial centre.
The cause of the explosions was not clear, but reports say armed opposition and pro-government groups may have fired rocket-propelled grenades.The country is witnessing its deepest political crisis since the civil war.
Lebanon has been without a head of state for five months because of a power struggle between the Western and Saudi-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition which is supported by Syria and Iran.
Pro-government supporters exchanged rifle and grenade fire with Hezbollah sympathisers in three neighbourhoods, security sources said.
There was no immediate word of casualties but ambulances where seen heading towards the areas.