Leftist protesters burn the American and Israeli flags during a protest held by a leftist group against Egypt's border barrier between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip, in front the Egyptian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday Jan. 17, 2010. Egypt is installing a series of metal sheets deep along the Gaza border to block tunnels used to smuggle weapons into Gaza.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Lebanese protesters accused Egypt's president Sunday of acting like an agent of Israel over his country's construction of an underground steel wall along the Gaza border.
The Egyptian barrier could deprive Gaza's Hamas rulers of their only lifeline by blocking hundreds of smuggling tunnels.
About 200 people took part in the protest near Egypt's embassy. Crowds set fire to U.S. and Israeli flags. Some of the Israeli flags had Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's picture on them.
The protesters also carried banners depicting Mubarak as an Israeli agent, as well as portraits of the president with a Star of David on his forehead.
The Gaza barrier has angered many Arabs and Muslims. Egypt calls it a matter of national security.
Hamas' exiled political leader, Khaled Mashaal, visited Beirut last week and urged Egypt to stop construction of the barrier, saying walls are built "between enemies, not brothers."
Sunday's protesters _ most of them activists from leftist groups _ carried banners with Mubarak's image and the words: "At your service USA."
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We have been so buried Western sphere news (incl Haiti)... World has heated up a bit more.
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Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010