en Gilbert reports from Beirut on the political tensions surrounding today's funeral for Lebanon's murdered minister Pierre Gemayel. Thousands of his supporters flooded the streets and demanded that the country's pro-Syrian president step down.

Yesterday's funeral in Lebanon for anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayal brought out hundreds of thousands of Christians and Sunni Muslims. But Shi'ites and supporters of the Shi'ite movement, Hezbollah, feel differently about the situation. Ben Gilbert has the story from Beirut.

The Lebanese capital, Beirut, was the scene of a massive anti-government protest rally today. Correspondent Ben Gilbert was there. He tells anchor Lisa Mullins that the demonstrators are demanding that Lebanon's prime minister step down.

Clashes between Sunnis and Shiites continue in the streets of Beirut as Hezbollah-led protests carried on for a fifth straight day. A funeral was held today for one protester killed in a street fight Sunday evening. Reporter Ben Gilbert talked with demonstrators at the funeral.

Ben Gilbert reports from Lebanon on efforts by the militant group Hezbollah to use music to further its agenda. That includes having its own band, which puts out songs meant to inspire the Lebanese and intimidate Israelis.

Iraq's post-Saddam army is an work in progress. It's still struggling to provide such basic benefits as health care and survivors' pay. Correspondent Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad.

Correspondent Ben Gilbert reports from Iraq on efforts by the US military to keep American troops from going over the edge as a result of the stresses of combat.

Correspondent Ben Gilbert reports from one of Iraq's most violent and lawless regions, Anbar Province. The area in and around the provincial capital, Ramadi, accounts for at least a quarter of all the insurgent attacks in the country.

Part of the reason for Iraq's surging gas prices and electricity shortages are the ongoing attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. As Ben Gilbert reports, that's not likely to change any time soon.

Suicide bombers in Iraq have launched deadly attacks at crowded mosques. There was a measure of calm today, but most don't expect the peace to last. The fear of suicide bombs has spawned a new kind of construction boom, complete with shortages. From Baghdad, Ben Gilbert reports.

Ben Gilbert reports on one of the few jobs in Iraq with a steady paycheck: being a soldier in the Iraqi army.

By any definition, Iraq is a hostile business climate. Most Iraqi businessmen who could leave have done so. But there is one group defying the odds. As Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad, the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce is not your typical group of local business leaders.

GDP figures were released for Iraq this week, and the nation's economy is on pace to grow by 10% next year. As Ben Gilbert reports, rank-and-file businessmen hope that growth trickles down to them too.

In Baghdad, banking would seem to be a risky business. But as Ben Gilbert reports, not only are Iraq's banks not leaving town, they're also trying to put an end to corrupt and restrictive practices from the days of Saddam Hussein.

Another food-related scandal has its grip on the Iraqi government. Lawmakers there are investigating contractors who provide food and other life support services, to the Iraqi military, as Ben Gilbert reports.

Things are slowly returning to normal for the Lebanese economy, but Ben Gilbert looks at one industry that's still waiting to see whether this was a good year.

Even as parts of Iraq are still chaotic at best, officials there are doing the best they can to get on with the business of running a country. They've passed a law that allows foreigners to invest in Iraq's upstart stock market. And they're still trying to figure out the rules. Borzou Daragahi spent a day on the trading floor.

Prices at the gas pump are coming down here in the US, but now it's the Iraqis who are howling. Gas used to be cheaper than water in Iraq, but the government just raised the price between 700 and 900%. From Baghdad, Ben Gilbert reports.

There are some small stirrings of life in the Iraq economy, but also a lot of uncertainty. Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad.

The jury's still out on western-style democracy succeeding in Iraq, but western-style pop culture - with voting, no less - is thriving. Ben Gilbert reports on "Iraq Star," a Middle Eastern variation on "American Idol."

Gone are the days when American soldiers cooked chow and did their own laundry. Now contractors in Iraq do those duties, and the workers come from all over the world. Ben Gilbert reports.

Iraqi interpreters work with foreign troops and media at great personal risk. About 5,000 fill that vital role for the US military. Ben Gilbert visited a base outside Ramadi and talked to some of them about their jobs.

Gas is cheap in Iraq. But if you are driving in that war-torn country, gas is about the only thing that's cheap. Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense may be missing $1.2 billion due to fraud. Ben Gilbert follows one of the inspector generals tasked with tracking down the money and those responsible.

A year ago, Iraq formed its first democratically-elected government in more than 50 years. But tackling corruption has not been high on the Iraqi government's to do list. As Ben Gilbert reports from Baghdad, corruption is more pervasive than ever.

The ceasefire in Lebanon has held for 30 hours now and people are turning their attention to aid. Host Scott Jagow talks to reporter Ben Gilbert in Beirut about how relief efforts are going.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled into Syria to escape Israeli attacks. But their massive numbers have put a major strain on Syrian public services. Ben Gilbert reports from Damascus.

Israeli air strikes spilled thousands of gallons of gas and oil into the Mediterranean Sea, polluting Lebanon's formerly-pristine coastline. Can the country reclaim its tourism image? Ben Gilbert reports.

Before the ceasefire in Lebanon took hold, trucks shipping supplies across the country were a major target of Israeli air strikes. Ben Gilbert talks to truckers who risked their lives to continue delivering goods.

The stock market in Beirut reopened for the first time in two weeks yesterday. Most of the movement was down, as is almost all economic activity in Lebanon since the fighting started. Ben Gilbert reports.

As fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah, fuel shortages are affecting all sectors of the Lebanese economy. Ben Gilbert reports.

The latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has sent many Lebanese fleeing the country to seek a better life abroad — and they're not just white-collar professionals. Ben Gilbert reports.

Nearly a month into the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas, Ben Gilbert surveys the toll the crisis has taken on the economy of Southern Lebanon.

Israel said today that it will expand its ground offensive into Lebanon. As resources dwindle, Ben Gilbert reports that many Lebanese are running out of fuel for their vehicles.

Lebanon has taken control of its entire country for the first time since 1968, but small business owners in war-torn southern Lebanon are counting on Hezbollah to get them back on their feet. Ben Gilbert reports.

As fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon rages on, the Lebanese government and economists estimate total losses to that country could be in the range of $7 billion — so far. Ben Gilbert reports.

The current level of destruction in Lebanon is unprecedented. Ben Gilbert reports the country has sustained billions of dollars in damages to infrastructure alone.

A group of Lebanese American businessmen returned to their homeland to see firsthand the devastation left by the recent war. Ben Gilbert has the story.

As Lebanon tries to pick up the pieces of its war-ruined economy, many companies are taking out ads to inspire hope and confidence — and bolster their brands — but not everyone's feeling the love. Ben Gilbert reports.

Iraq's power system is struggling to meet the demand for electrical power ahead of summer, when temperatures can surpass 100 degrees.