Beirut protesters rampage at a UN site over raids

About 100 demonstrators wielding axes and spades rampaged through a United Nations building in west Beirut Tuesday, smashing windows, wrecking cabinets, and burning files. A UN spokesman some 45 people were in the building. Sources said about 20 were slightly hurt, with 6 evacuated unconscious from the smoke-filled four-story building.

The demonstrators were said to be from south Lebanon, where a 6,000-strong UN peacekeeping force is stationed. They were protesting the UN force's failure to prevent Israeli raids there.

The demonstrators were eventually dispersed by Syrian troops of the Arab Deterrent Force.