Sun 19 January 2020:
Clashes between angry protesters and security forces in Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Saturday wounded more than 160 people from both sides, the Red Cross said.
The protest movement rocking Lebanon since October 17 has revived this week over delays in forming a new cabinet to address the country’s growing economic crisis.
Lebanon revolution reaches point of no return. #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/604E3QYhde
— hassan jaber (@hassanjaber1) January 19, 2020
#LebanonProtests: A choatic scene tonight as security forces violently crack down on protesters in Beirut, firing teargas and rubber bullets.
Over 100 people have been reportedly injured. pic.twitter.com/E298mI1b35
— Minh Ngo (@minhtngo) January 19, 2020
Chaos as water canons and tear gas are fired at protesters outside parliament on day 94 of #Lebanon’s nationwide uprising #lebanonprotests #لبنان__ينتفض pic.twitter.com/RX1jmiwGW0
— Ghada Alsharif (@GhadaaSharif) January 18, 2020
No progress appears to have been made towards a final Cabinet lineup, which protesters demand be comprised of independent experts and exclude all traditional political parties.
Anger at the banks – which have curbed people’s access to their savings – boiled over, with protesters smashing bank facades and ATMs on Tuesday night.
Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces said on Saturday that police in Beirut were being “violently and directly” confronted at one of the entrances to the parliament. In a tweet, it called on people to leave the area for their own safety.
Witnesses said they saw young men hurling stones and flower pots towards riot police, while protesters tried to push through an entrance to a heavily barricaded district of central Beirut, which includes the parliament.
Hundreds of protesters marched and chanted against the political class in other parts of the capital. A large banner at one of the rallies read: “If the people go hungry, they will eat their rulers.”
Outrageous that the Riot Police attacked people and fired tear gas inside the Mohammad Al Amin mosque, where women, children, and the injured were taking refuge!!! #LebanonProtests #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/eDVg4a93bJ
— Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) January 18, 2020
#breaking news : #Lebanon #Iraq and #Iran, all staunch against the corruption and #terrorism of the #mullahs.
Lebanese #Hezbollah terrorist forces attacked revolutionaries in #Beirut tonight.
Clashes continue in Beirut minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/WziLYnGysq
— Fared Azad (@FaridAzad2020) January 18, 2020
Protest camp on fire
It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) denied media reports that some of its forces had set the camp on fire.
Activists set up the camp in recent months as part of protests against a political class that plunged the country into its worst economic crisis in decades.
The unrest, which stemmed from anger at corruption and the rising cost of living, forced Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to resign in October. Feuding politicians have since failed to agree a new cabinet or rescue plan.
The Lebanese pound has lost nearly half its value, while dollar shortages have driven up prices and confidence in the banking system has collapsed.
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