Protester killed outside Iranian embassy in Beirut - security sources

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Lebanese man apparently protesting against the role of Hezbollah in the Syria conflict has been killed by gunfire outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut, Lebanese security sources say, according to BBC News.

A group of people have been protesting at the embassy against the Shia movement and its backer, Iran, over their involvement in Syria. Several people were reportedly injured in the incident.

Last week Hezbollah fighters helped retake the town of Qusair from rebels.

On Thursday, June 6 the White House called on both Iran and Hezbollah to withdraw fighters from Syria, where they have been helping government troops.

"It is clear that the regime is unable to contest the opposition's control of a place like Qusair on their own, and that is why they are dependent on Hezbollah and Iran to do their work for them," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Hezbollah - or the Party of God - is a political and military organisation in Lebanon made up mainly of Shia Muslims. It emerged with financial backing from Iran in the early 1980s and has always been a close ally of Syria's.