Beirut - An army clampdown on Christian activists in Lebanon opposed to Syria's domination has raised fears that the Arab world's traditionally most democratic country is turning into a police state.
Lebanese politicians, newspapers, television stations and columnists ridiculed the arrests of Christians, saying a few slogans against Syria and its Lebanese ally, Maronite President Emile Lahoud, did not merit such a random security dragnet.
"Draconian governance is known only for its propensity to radicalise those whom they seek to intimidate, drive them underground, and expand their base of support," wrote the Lebanese English-language paper The Daily Star in an editorial. "And without a plausible reason to make the move, the state has badly undermined its legitimacy in the eyes of all its citizens," it added.
The arrests involved more than 200 supporters of exiled Christian rebel leader Michel Aoun and jailed Lebanese Forces militia leader Samir Geagea. At least 10 more activists were arrested and seven were wounded during a demonstration in Beirut on Thursday.
Lebanon's Maronite Christians have been vocal critics of Syria's presence in Lebanon, where 20,000 troops are still in place despite a June pullout from Beirut.