Participants at Opposition Electoral Rally Assaulted in Southern Lebanon

A Bank customer holds a Lebanese flag during a protest outside the Lebanese parliament in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 13 April 2022. (EPA)
A Bank customer holds a Lebanese flag during a protest outside the Lebanese parliament in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 13 April 2022. (EPA)
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Participants at Opposition Electoral Rally Assaulted in Southern Lebanon

A Bank customer holds a Lebanese flag during a protest outside the Lebanese parliament in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 13 April 2022. (EPA)
A Bank customer holds a Lebanese flag during a protest outside the Lebanese parliament in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 13 April 2022. (EPA)

Lebanon continues to prepare for next month's parliamentary elections, with electoral rallies and events being held daily throughout the country.

Tensions have been high in some region, especially in the South, between the opposition and traditional powers, notably the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal party.

Partisan supporters reportedly assaulted on Saturday people seeking to participate at an elections event in the southern Sarafand region.

The opposition "Together towards Change" was holding a rally to unveil its candidates, who would be running in the second electoral district in the South.

Ahead of the rally, partisan supporters deployed in the area, leading to tensions that boiled over into shooting at and the assault of the participants, said activists on social media.

The opposition candidates accused members of the Amal movement of being behind the attack.

The movement, headed by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, denied the accusation.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
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China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.