In Lebanon, Hezbollah supporters attack protesters in Beirut

Supporters of the two powerful Shiite movements Hezbollah and Amal attacked anti-government protesters in the night from Sunday to Monday in Beirut, Lebanon, which had blocked one of the main axes of the capital.

Shortly before midnight (10 pm GMT Sunday), men arrived on foot and motorcycles on a square in Beirut, where peaceful protesters had set up a roadblock blocking an important avenue in the Lebanese capital, according to television footage.

The men chanted slogans to the glory of Hezbollah and Amal leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri after accusing the protesters of making offensive remarks against the two Shiite leaders.

#Hezbollah supporters & Amal waving their flags on one side versus the #lebaneseflag & chants of national anthem on the other side #LebanonProtests are still standing in the longest standoff since the beginning of the #LebanonRevolution pic.twitter.com/wu9sI3RjZO

On images broadcast by local television stations, soldiers and riot police could be seen
cordon to separate the two camps. Reinforcements of the Lebanese army have been deployed in the area.

Shiite counter-protesters also went nearby to a protest center and destroyed tents set up by the protesters.

This is the worst resurgence of tension in Beirut since groups loyal to Amal and Hezbollah attacked and destroyed last month, the main camp of protesters, located Martyrs Square in the heart of the capital.

These incidents occurred after a day of peaceful protests in Beirut, Tire, southern Lebanon, and Tripoli, in the north, more than a month after the start of a widespread protest against the whole class. Lebanese leader, considered corrupt and incompetent.

After the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his government on October 29, the protesters now maintain pressure on the political class to appoint a new government, made up of technocrats and independents.

With AFP and Reuters