Several flights were suspended on Tuesday at Beirut airport as roads to the airport were blocked by Lebanese opposition protesters, local New TV reported.

 

Eight flights from Egypt, Oman, France, Kuwait, Bahrain, Germany and Qatar have been cancelled, the report said.

 

The airport remained operational, but few workers showed up and passengers were unable to get there or to leave, airport sources were quoted as saying.

 

Several Arab and international airlines also suspended flights to Beirut, but the Lebanese Middle East Airlines has not made any announcement on its plans, the report added.

 

Lebanese opposition supporters on Tuesday blocked several main roads in Beirut and other parts of the country with burning tires at the start of a one-day general strike aimed at keeping up pressure against Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's government.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2007)