Journalists come to blows over Syria on live TV

Hezbollah associate Salem Zahran and Asaad Bechara, who is affiliated with the March 14 alliance came to blows late Friday evening when they were guests in an episode of the live programme Hadith al-Saa [Talk of the Hour] on Hezbollah's al-Manar TV. The broadcast was interrupted to resolve the situation between the two journalists. The row began when Zahran accused Bechara of having acquired all his information about the situation in Syria from news channel Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, to which Bechara responded "And you come here to talk to me on the basis of what you hear on the Syrian ad-Dounia channel." Zahran said "Ad-Dounia has more virtue than you and doesn't take money from Israel or American intelligence." Bechara was angered by the accusations and the host, journalist Emad Marmal, tried to calm his guests until Zahran called Bechara "an idiot," to which Bechara responded "Eat shit." Zahran then proceeded to throw water from his cup on Bechara's face before Marmal could push him away from Bechara. Zahran continued hurling swear words at Bechara before the water cup was broken and Zahran used it to try and attack Bechara while Marmar tried to separate the two. Broadcast was interrupted amid shouting.