Dubai – Masaader News
Almost 400 people were wounded during battles between Lebanese anti-government protesters and security forces in Beirut, according to France 24.
It was the heaviest toll since the protests erupted three months ago, with the Red Cross and Civil Defence saying 377 people at least were rushed to hospitals or treated at the scene.
Protesters had called Saturday for a week of “anger” as an economic crisis deepened while efforts remained deadlocked to form a new government to replace the one that stepped down under street pressure late last year.
Saturday’s clashes began after dozens of protesters, who came from the country’s north, east and Beirut, some concealing their faces with scarves, threw rocks, plant pots and other objects at anti-riot police guarding the road leading to parliament.
The security forces responded with volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
The pitched street battles lasted for nearly nine hours and were among the worst scene of rioting since protests broke out in mid-October.