NOW OCTOBER 1, 2013 Protesters block Tripoli-Akkar highway Relatives of the Lebanese asylum-seekers who died last week when a boat sank off Indonesia protested on Tuesday and blocked the highway that links the northern town of Tripoli to Akkar, NOW’s correspondent reported. The protesters accused the Lebanese state of being remiss in following up on the issue. NOW’s correspondent also reported that traffic was diverted to the seaside road from the Industrial city area in Al-Baddawi and the Araman area in Menieh. The death toll from the sinking of the Australia-bound boat off the coast of Java has risen to 28, with many more still feared missing, according to Indonesian police. The Lebanese foreign ministry said there were 68 Lebanese, including children, on board the ill-fated vessel, and that 18 survived the ordeal while at least 29 were still missing. Most of them came from Akkar, an impoverished and remote province of north Lebanon where thousands of Syrians have sought refuge from the 30-month conflict that has wracked their country. https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/lebanonnews/protesters-block-tripoli-akkar-highway
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 09:00:31 +0000