-
At least 728 people have been injured in clashes with authorities as thousands of Protestants took to the streets of central Beirut as insurgent police fired tear gas at those trying to break through a barrier to the parliament building. One police officer was also killed.
-
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called for early talks after Tuesday’s deadly blast, saying it is the only way out of the country’s crisis.
-
Lebanese authorities have arrested 19 people as part of an investigation.
-
At least 158 people were killed in the blast and more than 6,000 others injured, but it is expected to be counted as search and rescue operations continue for missing people.
Here are the latest updates:
Sunday, August 9th
00:10 GMT – Lebanese authorities accused of excessive use of force
At least 14 journalists and other media workers have been attacked while covering the latest protests in Lebanon, according to a journalist for the independent news website The Public Source.
Authorities are accused of using excessive force against the protesters, who demonstrated against inaction by government after the deadly explosion in Beirut on Tuesday.
Excessive use of force ☑️
Attacking screens ☑️Repeat the same mistakes over & over ☑️#Beirut #LebanonProtests https://t.co/CLAQQ7nux1
– Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) August 8, 2020
Saturday, August 8th
23:35 GMT – Hundreds injured in demonstrations in Beirut
More than 728 people have been injured in protests in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in response to a deadly blast that killed at least 158 people on Tuesday.
Protesters have demanded action from the government amid the economic crisis the country is facing, even before the disaster strikes.
18:59 GMT – Lebanese army expels Protestants from foreign ministry
The Lebanese army expelled a group of Protestants who had taken over the Foreign Ministry building hours earlier.
The protesters, led by retired army officers, had stormed the building, declaring it the ‘headquarters of the revolution’, but they were driven out three hours later when large army reinforcements mustered.
18:38 GMT – US says it supports Lebanon’s right to peaceful protest, urges political reform
The US government supports the right of Lebanese protesters to peaceful protest and urges all those involved to refrain from violence, the US embassy in Beirut said.
The embassy also said in a tweet that the Lebanese people “deserve to have leaders who listen to them and change course to respond to popular demands for transparency and accountability”.
1/2 The Lebanese people have suffered too much and deserve to have leaders who listen to them and change course to respond to popular demands for transparency and accountability.
– US Embassy Beirut (@usembassybeirut) August 8, 2020
18:13 GMT – Army and Protestants clash on Beirut main road
Army soldiers and protesters clashed through the main ring road of Beirut near the city center amid persistent anti-government alliances, a Al Jazeera reporter said.
The army attacked protesters with sticks, striking a large number of them, while protesters responded by throwing stones at the troops.
“Take off your suit and come stand with us, then you can wear it again with honor,” said a protester as a number of them confronted a line of soldiers.
“Tell us what you get when you’re with them? We do not really understand, why are you doing this to us?”
Riot police used excessive amounts of tear gas in a bid to disperse protesters trying to break through a barrier leading to the parliament building [Tamara Saade/Al Jazeera]
16:57 GMT – Latest Lebanese Red Cross figures from protest site
– At least 238 Protestants are injured in central Beirut;
– 63 Protestants were transported to nearby hospitals;
– 175 others were treated at the scene of the protests.
16:38 GMT – Protesters storm Association of Banks HQ, Department of Energy
A group of protesters has stormed the Association of Banks of Lebanon, as well as the Lebanese Ministry of Energy as part of their attempt to take over the country’s ministries.
ABL chief Salim Sfeir and CB governor Riad Salameh two key figures in the collapse of the Lebanese pound and economy.
Protesters killed the Association of Banks, “سقطت.”
Banks close off to the #BeirutExplosions when people needed the most cash.# سبت_الإنتقام pic.twitter.com/oxs9vYN8hC
– Lara Bitar (@LaraJBitar) August 8, 2020
16:18 GMT – Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck
A Lebanese policeman was killed in clashes with protesters in central Beirut, a police spokesman said.
The protests against the prevailing political establishment have also injured more than 100 people and admitted dozens of hospitals.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
