LEBANESE PROTESTERS BROKE INTO THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN BEIRUT ON SUNDAY, SMASHING WINDOWS AND RANSACKING OFFICES, AFTER AN ISRAELI AIR STRIKE KILLED 40 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 23 CHILDREN, 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". GEIR PETERSEN, THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IN LEBANON, CONDEMNED THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE OF QANA AND CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. "I STRONGLY CONDEMN TODAY'S KILLING OF TENS OF CIVILIANS BY ISRAELI SHELLING OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE OF QANA," HE SAID IN A STATEMENT. PETERSEN WAS NOT AT THE U.N. OFFICES IN BEIRUT WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED. 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, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS.
