The shooting at a barricade south of Beirut occurred when a group of protesters objected to new statements by President Michel Aoun. According to the army, those who fired the shots had tried to disperse the group.

Earlier on Tuesday, Aoun warned in a television interview that the country was on the verge of a "disaster" if protesters did not interrupt their actions and left home.

Presidential statements had the opposite effect

- If you continue in this way, you will lower Lebanon and your own interests. We work day and night to get things done. If the protesters continue, it will be a disaster, if they quit, there is still room for us to fix this, Aoun said.

That statement had an immediate opposite effect, leading to a series of new demonstrations throughout the country, with several of them demonstrating building barricades and burning car tires.

New demonstrations are planned

Protests against corruption and tax hikes have shaken Lebanon, a country in deep economic crisis, since mid-October. The demonstrations have been largely peaceful but have crippled the country. The banks were completely closed during mid-October, and were closed again on Tuesday. The banks are reportedly worried that e will be stormed by protesters demanding to get their savings.

Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned on October 29 as a result of the demonstrations. In Tuesday's television interview, Michel Aoun said that the governing body did not come close to a solution about who should replace him.

New demonstrations are scheduled for Wednesday.