In the Lebanese capital Beirut, dozens of demonstrators were injured in collisions with security forces on Saturday. After a relatively quiet period, the country has been restless for a week.
The collisions occurred during a march in which thousands of demonstrators took part. Protesters threw stones and fireworks at the police and street signs were pulled out of the ground. Security forces responded with water cannons and tear gas.
The Lebanese Minister of the Interior regards the behavior of the demonstrators as unacceptable. “That the protests turn into an attack on the security forces and public and private property is unacceptable.”
Protests are getting bigger again
The protests in Lebanon broke out on October 17 last year after the government announced that it would be calling social media such as WhatsApp. After this tax proposal was withdrawn, protests continued and the tens of thousands of demonstrators focused on the economic problems, the poor state of public facilities and the widespread corruption in the country.
After five days of demonstrations, the Lebanese government came up with a package of economic emergency measures to satisfy the demonstrators. This did not help, so Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri decided on October 29 to resign.
A relatively quiet period followed. However, since last week the demonstrations are starting to get bigger again.
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