Security forces tore down opponents of anti-gas government on Shatabdi | News

Beirut, Lebanon – Angry protesters hurled stones at the steel walls surrounding Lebanon’s heavily fortified parliament complex in central Beirut and used metal frames as security forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

A small group of protesters marched on parliament on Tuesday after hundreds of others gathered in Shaheed Square to bring justice to the victims of the devastating port explosion and to celebrate the centenary of the creation of Greater Lebanon.

An explosion at a port in the capital last month killed at least 190 people, injured thousands, and left 300,000 others homeless, sparking protests for a second time with a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The two-day visit came after Lebanese leaders announced Mustafa Adib, the country’s former ambassador to Berlin, as the new prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government following the blast.

Hundreds of people gathered at Shaheed Chowk on the occasion of the centenary and to protest against the ruling class. [Arwa Ibrahim/Al Jazeera]

The protesters, who came from different parts of the country and represented many civil society groups and political movements, chanted anti-government slogans and demanded that the government resign.

“We want them to walk, they’re all gone,” said one young protester, throwing stones at the steel walls.

Security forces pushed protesters into Shaheed Chowk, away from parliament, firing tear gas and rubber-coated bullets. There were sporadic quarrels between the two sides. By late evening, however, only a few dozen protesters remained on the streets.

Protesters at Shaheed Square called for early elections, a new election law and an independent government to resolve the long-running financial crisis and hold those responsible for the August port blast responsible.

Many also expressed their rejection of Adib as the country’s new prime minister and Macron’s visit, saying it was a reflection of foreign involvement in the country’s internal affairs.

Reject the ruling class

Nain Elrahi, a 33-year-old instructor at the university from Mount Lebanon, said he wanted to express his disapproval for the ruling class, including the newly appointed prime minister.

“We are here to deny the imaginary appointment of the ruling class and Adib. Political parties do not realize how devastating the explosion was,” the protest organizer told Al Jazeera.

“They are moving forward with a normal business-wise general business, appointing people unconstitutionally,” Ilarahi said. “Appointments for public offices are made by political parties, this obvious lack of accountability is where we are.

“Adib has no vision, no plan. He just entered the office with the help of the International Chapman.”

Protesters use rocks to try to break down steel walls around parliament [Arwa Ibrahim/Al Jazeera]

Remi Fing, a year-old dentist in Tripoli, said that when he and a group of 25 other workers came from the northern city to refuse a visit to MacCrone, Adib’s appointment was more for him to participate. The reason was.

“In particular, we, the people of Tripoli, have been the victims of this regime. Adib represents the same ruling class that we completely reject,” Fing said as he went to school with the newly appointed prime minister.

He added, “He is not an independent politician, nor does he work for it.”

He was tasked with forming a new government on Monday, when he received 90 out of 120 votes in favor of his appointment from the main political parties in power – including Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement, Amal and the Future Movement.

A day before his formal appointment, four senior Sunni politicians and former prime ministers – Saad Hariri, Fouad Seniora, Najib Mikti and Tammam Salam – were backing Adib for the role, while rumors circulated in the local media that Macron was also supporting Adib.

Adib was appointed after his predecessor, Hassan Diab, who came to power last year with the support of a narrow margin of the country’s ruling class after anti-government protests that toppled Saad Hariri’s government.

‘No foreign interference’

Doumit Ezzi, a 22-year-old university student from Junih, north of Beirut, said one of the main reasons behind their involvement was to “protest Macron’s involvement”.

“It’s all [the visit] “The current regime is given international legitimacy,” said Azzi, who is also a member of the Lahaki movement for my rights.

“We are offended by this regime, which did nothing after the explosion. And before that, it did nothing to address the demands of the revolution or to solve the economic crisis – now it’s worse,” he told Al Jazeera.

On Monday, the World Bank estimated that the blast caused at least 2 3.2bn of bodily damage, mostly to the transport sector, housing and cultural sites, in addition to at least 92.9bn to the country’s economic output.

Angry protesters use steel frames to climb the heavily fortified parliament complex as security forces use tear gas to disperse them. [Arwa Ibrahim/Al Jazeera]

Even before the blast, Lebanon’s economy was in shambles as the banking system collapsed, skyrocketing inflation and the Covid-19 epidemic led the World Bank to report that 45 percent of the population was living below the poverty line this year. .

Naimat Baderldin, 39, of Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon, said he had come to deny “foreign interference” in the Lebanese case.

“I am against the visit of Maron Krone and any other foreign involvement in our country,” Baderldin said. “Whether it’s a polite visit to MacCrone and his meetings with civil society groups and NGOs, development means nothing has changed.

“We all know that Moron Krone is not here to help. He is here for foreign interest.”

Protesters march near parliament to protest against Lebanon’s ruling class [Arwa Ibrahim/Al Jazeera]

Performing constant demonstrations

Tuesday’s protest was the first major demonstration since August 8, with dozens of people injured after thousands of anti-government protesters received tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and live ammunition fired by security forces, just four days after the blast.

Protesters tried to reach the country’s parliament building after the protests began in October last year, as protesters tried to reach the country’s parliament building.

Since then, thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against corruption, lack of basic services and mismanagement of government.

The protest movement was experienced as coronavirus-related sanctions were imposed in February to prevent its spread. But the century and recent developments pushed people back to the streets.

“We are here because today marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Lebanon, but we still have no country,” said Mohamed Sarhan, 30. “We are here to demand change.”

Follow Arwa Ibrahim on Twitter: arwaib