Hizbullah supporters blocked Beirut streets Wednesday with burning barricades, paralyzing the capital in an effort to enforce a national strike and force a showdown in the ongoing government crisis. Lebanon has been without a president since November, when the pro-Syrian minority demanded more representation in the Cabinet.

Rioters torched vehicles, smashed windows and blocked the main road to Beirut's international airport, where the government on Tuesday fired a senior official accused of helping Hizbullah. The airport also is on strike by employees demanding higher wages.
 
The government has charged Hizbullah with setting up surveillance cameras at the airport in order to spy on anti-Syrian leaders.