LEBANESE PROTESTERS BROKE INTO THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN BEIRUT ON SUNDAY, SMASHING WINDOWS AND RANSACKING OFFICES, AFTER AN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE KILLED AT LEAST 40 PEOPLE IN SOUTH LEBANON. SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE MASSED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BEIRUT CHANTING "DEATH TO ISRAEL, WE SACRIFICE OUR BLOOD AND SOULS FOR LEBANON". U.N. SPOKESMAN KHALED MANSOUR SAID THE BUILDING HAD BEEN STONED AND FURNITURE SMASHED BUT NO U.N. STAFF WERE HURT AS THEY HAD TAKEN REFUGE IN THE BASEMENT. HE SAID A SMALL FIRE WAS STARTED ON THE SECOND FLOOR BUT IT HAD BEEN CONTAINED. DEMONSTRATORS HELD ALOFT THE FLAGS OF LEBANON, HIZBOLLAH AND THE AMAL PARTY, WHOSE LEADER, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER NABIH BERRI, APPEALED FOR A HALT TO THE ATTACK. "GIVE THE WORLD A CHANCE TO STAND BY US," HE SAID ON LOCAL TELEVISION. DEMONSTRATORS TORE DOWN A UNITED NATIONS FLAG OUTSIDE THE BUILDING AND RIPPED IT TO SHREDS AND CALLED ON HIZBOLLAH LEADER SAYYED HASSAN NASRALLAH TO LAUNCH ROCKET ATTACKS ON TEL AVIV, REUTERS REPORTED.
