Lebanese security forces used batons and tear gas to break up hundreds of protesters who gathered outside of Lebanon’s central bank for a second night on Wednesday before moving their demonstration to a police station where officers continued to hold 50 people detained Tuesday.
“Another day of confusion around the formation of a government, amidst the increasingly angry protests and free-falling economy,” Jan Kubis, the UN’s envoy to Lebanon, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “Politicians, don’t blame the people, blame yourselves for this dangerous chaos.”
Another day of confusion around the formation of a government, amidst the increasingly angry protests and free-falling economy. Politicians, don’t blame the people, blame yourselves for this dangerous chaos.
The Red Cross reported 45 people were injured Wednesday, with 35 taken to nearby hospitals and 10 treated at the scene. State-run National News Agency reported that some tear gas canisters launched by police had fallen inside the Russian Embassy, which sits near the station where officers hold the prisoners.
Riot police drag anti-government protesters into the police barracks during a protest demanding the release of 59 of their comrades who were detained following overnight clashes near Lebanese Central Bank in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 January 2020. EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH
The protests began on October 17. Lebanon has not had a government since Saad Hariri resigned as prime minister on October 29 under pressure from the protests. Politicians have yet to agree on a new Cabinet despite designating Hassan Diab, a professor and former education minister, to replace Hariri in December.
