Thousands of hard-line Christians stormed the seat of the Maronite Catholic church late Sunday and reportedly beat and humiliated its 68-year-old Patriarch.

The hard-liners, supporters of Gen. Michel Aoun, the Christian army commander, virtually shut down the Christian sector in central Lebanon today to show their opposition to a peace accord negotiated by Lebanese legislators against the general's wishes.

The strike shut down all schools, shops, restaurants, banks and government offices in Christian East Beirut and in many parts of the 310-square mile Christian sector north and east of the capital.

Black smoke billowed from burning tires that were scattered around the city to cut off traffic. Christian army soldiers and civilians, using bullhorns, marched down the streets calling on residents to join them in support of General Aoun, who says that the election of Rene Moawad as the new President of Lebanon was illegal.