This Saturday was marked by some of the most violent clashes since the start of the protest movement three months ago in Lebanon. More than 220 people were injured in Beirut in clashes between protesters and law enforcement. Late in the evening, the protesters were dispersed by the police, who carried out several arrests, according to local media.
Popular anger has been exacerbated by the rapid deterioration of the socio-economic situation in recent weeks and the inability of the authorities to form a government that meets the expectations of the protesters, more than two months after the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
The violence started outside one of the main entrances to the Parliament, in the heart of the capital, when demonstrators attacked members of the riot police, stationed behind barricades and barbed wire.
The demonstrators, sometimes masked, threw stones, sign posts and tree branches at them. Some tried to cross the barbed wire. Riot police dispersed the crowd using water cannons before resorting to tear gas. On both sides of the artery leading to the entrance to the Parliament, panes of advertising panels were broken.
80 people hospitalized
"More than 80 people were transported to hospitals [...] while more than 140 others were treated on the spot," said a spokesman for the Red Cross, adding that the injured were protesters and members of the law enforcement.
The clashes continued for more hours for several hours. Protesters threw stones and fireworks at the police. Bank facades were also damaged by protesters, according to the National Information Agency (ANI). In recent days, protesters have targeted banks, accused of complicity with the government, attacking several signs in central Beirut.
Surreal scenes tonight in downtown #Beyrouth around the Houses of Parliament. The revolt does not run out of steam, more than three months later #LebanonProtests # لبنان__ينتفض (images from @LbciLebanon) pic.twitter.com/07VCRay3fa
- Rania Massoud (@RaniaMassoud) January 18, 2020Unidentified people have also set fire to the tents erected by protesters since the start of the movement near Place des Martyrs in downtown Beirut.
Restrictions on withdrawals from banks
In a statement posted on Twitter, the internal security forces (ISF) deplored "violent" acts calling on "peaceful demonstrators to leave the area urgently for their own safety". Also on Twitter, President Michel Aoun called on the security services to "guarantee the security of peaceful demonstrators, prevent acts of vandalism and preserve public and private property". Saad Hariri blamed the violence on "infiltrators".
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The protest calls for a government made up of technocrats and figures independent of the traditional political class from the start of the movement. But negotiations have dragged on since the appointment on December 19 of the new Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, against a background of differences over the sharing of portfolios within the political parties that supported his appointment, which has fueled the anger of the street.
Faced with the impasse, the protest saw a revival this week after a period of breathlessness. Anger has been exacerbated by deteriorating living conditions and draconian restrictions on withdrawals by banks.
Lebanon is collapsing under a debt of around 90 billion dollars (81 billion euros), more than 150% of its GDP. The World Bank warned in November that the poverty rate could reach 50% of the population, against a third at present.