The former ministers were restrained from a full-blown fistfight by the show's host Beirut - George Shaheen   A live broadcast of Lebanese channel MTV's political show "With Objectivity" was halted abruptly after a fight broke out between former MP and Future party leader Mostafa Alloush and the Syrian Ba'ath party's National Secretary Fayez Shokr.
Viewers reported that a tense atmosphere dominated the show from the very beginning, which was moderated by the journalist Walid Abboud. After an exhancge of insults, the altercation heated up and resulted in a physical fight.
Following is a transcript of the exchange between Alloush and Fayez before the broadcast was interrupted:
Shokr: "I hope you listen to me and see what was said by the president Assad."
Alloush: "I listened my dear."
Shokr: "Did you listen to his speech? What did you understand?"
Alloush: "I listened to it, but I don't believe in it at all."
Shokr: "To whom did you listen?"
Alloush: "To Bashar Assad."
Shokr: "Don't you believe Bashar Assad!?"
Alloush: "No, No, I don't believe him! I don't believe him!"
Shokr: "Why, who are you to believe or not believe in Bashar Asaad?
Alloush: "Sharaf! Keep quiet."
Shokr: "I'm keeping quiet, but shame on you for saying that!"
Alloush: "You, shame on you for saying shame on me."
Shokr: "Shame on you for saying that you don't believe him!"
Alloush: "Shame on you too, I don't believe him as he is a liar."
Shokr: "You are the liar, shame on you for saying that."
Alloush: "Sharaf! What are you saying, be polite my son."
Shokr: "You are the same age as my sons."
Moderator Walid Abboud then intervened: "Dr. Fayez!! Dr. Mostafa what is going on?"
Alloush: "You are acting like small kids."
Abboud: "Dr.Fayez."
Shokr: "My shoes are more honorable than you and your family."
Abboud: "Dr. Fayez, Dr. Fayez."
Alloush: "Shut your damn mouth."
Shokr (throwing the glass on Alloush): "You hold your dirty mouth."
(Alloush throws back the glass)
Shokr: "Naughty words."
Alloush then tried to attack Shokr, who rose from his seat and tried to lift it to strike Alloush. Abboud however blocked him, catching him from behind, and stood amongst the two men saying "Calm down men!" while Alloush insulted Shokr and tried to push Abboud aside saying "Get away from me!"
The broadcast was stopped for 20 minutes and things then returned to normal. Abboud took a phone call from one of the pro-Assad people and the two guests sat in silence except for some replies to the phone calls received by the show.
After the show, Shokr's entourage drew out their weapons, but he asked them to put them back.