Chavez and Nasser with Cola

Yalla Bye. Chavez and Nasser, Cola Intersection, 11/03/2013.

Since the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez last week, posters have sprung up around the Cola intersection  – the main bus terminal linking Beirut with the south of the country –  depicting “El Commandante” alongside second Egyptian President and former darling of pan-arabism Gamal Abdel Nasser . 

The posters continue down the Camille Chamoun highway up to the Hafez Al-Assad roundabout that dissects the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiry, Jnah, and Ouzai. BeirutStateofMind headed down to take a look...

Chavez and Nasser (2). The caption in the image, a quote from Chavez reads: "I am not a communist, but I am a Nasserist. As Gamal Abdel Nasser believed - each country has its own (special) socialism." The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is depicted in the background. The poster is the work of the Independent Nasserite Movement, aka, the "Al-Murabitoun." Cola intersection, 11/03/13.Wata Msaytbeh, 11/03/13.

Chavez and Nasser (3). Wata Msaytbeh, 11/03/13.

Chavez and Nasser (4). Cola intersection, 11/03/13.

Chavez, Nasser and shabab. A group of bus-driver's take a break and a nargileh. Camille Chamoun Boulevard,  11/03/13.
Chavez, Nasser and shabab. Camille Chamoun Boulevard, 11/03/13.
Some other Nasserist imagery in the area. The caption on the right of the poster reads: "Beirut will remain immune to the Zionists." Wata Msaytbeh, 11/03/13.

Hammer and sickle. Camille Chamoun Boulevard, 11/03/13.

"No to American politics/policies." Camille Chamoun Boulevard, 11/03/13.

Like father, like son: Images of Hafez and Bashar Al-Assad hang from a column on the Hafez Al-Assad roundabout along the Hafez Al-Assad highway, 11/03/13.

Nabih Berri, leader of the Shia Amal Movement and Speaker of the Lebanese House of Parliament is depicted alongside embattled Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad. The Syrian and Lebanese flags appear merged. Interestingly, the caption below the image reveals that it is the work of the Arab Socialist (Baath) Party, and not Berri's Amal movement - although it is not uncommon to find Berri pictured alongside Assad in Amal imagery. Hafez Al-Assad highway, 11/03/13.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah is pictured alongside Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Once again, although the Hezbollah logo can be seen top right, this poster is the work of the Arab Socialist  (Baath) Party. Hafez Al-Assad highway, 11/03/13.