Thousands hit streets of tense Beirut for marathon

BEIRUT — More than 28,000 runners hit the streets on Sunday for the annual Beirut Marathon in what the prime minister called a show of unity despite warnings of another crisis looming in Lebanon.By foot, on bicycles and stilts, in wheelchairs and strollers, men, women and children from 86 countries were cheered as they made their way through the Lebanese capital amid tight security.Ethiopia's young runner Mohammed Hussein Teman won the race, completing the 26 miles (more than 42 kilometres) in two hours and 16 minutes. Local media said more than 28,000 people took part.The eighth Beirut Marathon was run despite tensions gripping the capital over a looming indictment by a UN-backed tribunal on the assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri."This marathon is a sign that Lebanon is just fine," said Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the victim's son who joined the race alongside Sports Minister Ali Abdullah and several MPs and ministers."Hopefully this marathon will show the Lebanese that the echoes (of danger) they are hearing are nothing more than that," said Hariri.MP Sethrida Geagea, wife of Christian leader and key Hariri ally Samir Geagea, beat the premier and dozens of other politicians to the finish line in a race which brought together members of Lebanon's rival political camps.The marathon comes amid a deepening rift between Hariri, a Sunni, and the Shiite movement Hezbollah over a UN-backed international tribunal investigating the 2005 bombing which killed Rafiq Hariri and 22 others.Unconfirmed reports say the tribunal will indict members of Hezbollah, which has two members in Hariri's unity cabinet. Analysts warn the crisis could lead to a total paralysis of state institutions and even the fall of the government. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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