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Clashes with Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon

2020-06-06T22:57:18.633Z


Lebanon is experiencing one of the worst economic and financial crises in its history. The Corona crisis is exacerbating the situation. The anger of the people is growing - and is discharged in new violence.


Lebanon is experiencing one of the worst economic and financial crises in its history. The Corona crisis is exacerbating the situation. The anger of the people is growing - and is discharged in new violence.

Beirut (dpa) - The first major anti-government protest in weeks resulted in clashes between protesters and supporters of the Shiite Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Red Cross tweeted on Saturday that 48 people were injured, of which eleven were taken to the hospital.

According to security circles, Hezbollah supporters started throwing stones in the center of the capital Beirut after the demonstrators tuned in chants against the organization. Security forces use tear gas to separate the groups. "Nobody is allowed to start hailing against Hezbollah," said one of the organization's supporters.

Previously, people from different parts of the country had been on the streets in Beirut for the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic and weeks of exit restrictions. Many of them wore masks in the colors of the Lebanese flag. The protest under the motto "We want a better life" was directed against the political elite, which the demonstrators blame for the economic crisis.

"We no longer want a corrupt system and corrupt politicians to govern us," said one protester. Signs called for independent government and new elections.

The Mediterranean country is experiencing one of the worst economic and financial crises in its history. The government was unable to repay government bonds for the first time in March. Lebanon is one of the world's most indebted countries. Critics accuse the political elite of having unrestrainedly enriched their public finances with a kind of pyramid scheme. The government is negotiating a bailout program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Corona crisis and exit restrictions have exacerbated the situation. The Lebanese pound has lost more than half of its value against the dollar, which is driving inflation. Before Corona, around 40 percent of the Lebanese had lived below the poverty line.

In the run-up to the protest on Saturday, activists had demanded that Hezbollah be disarmed there too. Others refused. The organization, which is closely allied with Iran, forms something of a state in the state in Lebanon. It is involved in the government, but it also has its own militia that controls areas. In April Germany announced a ban on Hezbollah's activities.

Weekly mass protests against the government had already broken out in October, but were brought to a standstill by the pandemic. The power in Lebanon is divided among Sunnis, Shiites and Christians according to a 1943 proportional system.

Video of protests

Tweet Red Cross

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-06-06

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