BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 2 (UPI) -- Calm returned to south of Beirut and other Shiite-populated regions following riots sparked by television sketches ridiculing Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
The satirical program, broadcast on the Christian Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), sparked riots in Beirut's southern suburbs, the city of Tyre in south Lebanon and in the ancient city of Baalbeck in east Lebanon.
The protesters took to the streets overnight Thursday, burned tires and cut off roads to express their indignation over the satirical sketch which ridiculed Hezbollah, its chief and the armed resistance it is waging against Israeli occupation of a disputed area in south Lebanon called Shabaa Farms, which Israel claims is Syrian territory.
The program's producer apologized for what he called "the non-intentioned offense" of Nasrallah.
The Hezbollah chief appeared on television at dawn Friday, calling on his supporters to leave the streets and end their protests for the sake of the country's security and stability.
The program, Basmat Watan, satirizes all Lebanese politicians, but this marks the first time it had targeted Nasrallah.
