At least 31 people were injured in clashes between protesters and members of the Lebanese army, during protests over the deteriorating living conditions and the unprecedented decline in the value of the national currency in a country seeking to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
After a lull in a few hours in Tripoli, the demonstrators returned to the street, and demonstrations took place in several areas of the city, particularly in the Mina district.
Clashes erupted between protesters and members of the army, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters towards the protesters to disperse them, and they chased people who committed riots and violence, including smashing a bank façade.
Hundreds of protesters gathered, on Tuesday, in the Nour Square in Tripoli, and lit candles on the spirit of Fawaz al-Samman, a young man who was killed during clashes with the army on Monday.
A number of protesters also gathered in front of the house of former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The army threw tear gas canisters to disperse protesters, some of whom threw stones at Mikati's house, while ambulances transported wounded as a result of a stampede and stones.
The Lebanese Red Cross said that four wounded people were taken to hospitals, as well as 22 other injured patients.
Protesters roam the streets of Tripoli on foot and on motorcycles, chanting slogans condemning the deteriorating financial and economic conditions, in a country that suffers the worst economic crisis in its history.
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Targeting banks
In Beirut, foot marches of hundreds of protesters from the Corniche al-Mazraa area towards the museum area were launched, with the presence of members of the security forces.
Dozens of protesters arrived in front of the Central Bank of Lebanon in Hamra, and threw stones at the building of the bank, in light of the spread of anti-riot police.
Anatolia reported that five people were wounded in a confrontation between protesters and members of the army in the Dbayeh area, east of Beirut.
In Sidon (South), hundreds of youths carried out a protest in front of the Central Bank of Lebanon branch in the city, rejecting the high prices and protesting against the high exchange rate of the dollar against the Lebanese pound.
The value of the Lebanese currency exceeded the threshold of four thousand against one dollar in the informal (black) market, compared to the official exchange rate of about 1500 pounds.
Protesters threw firecrackers towards the bank building, setting fire to the site.
Security forces placed barbed wire in the vicinity of the bank, after protesters tried to climb his gate. There was a stampede between the protesters and members of the army, leaving the wounded, whose number was not immediately clear.
The (official) National Agency reported that a soldier was injured by stone throwing at protesters in the Sidon commercial market.
In the Bekaa (East), protesters carried out a protest in the Hermel area square, calling for "accountability of politicians and corrupt people and the recovery of looted funds."
And the Directorate of Internal Security Forces demanded, earlier, "the demonstrators to stay away from the riots and vandalism," stressing that it "is obligated to protect peaceful demonstrators."
Prime Minister Hassan Diab admitted - during a government session - that "the social and living crisis worsened at a record speed."
He showed his understanding of "the cry of the people," but stressed his refusal to turn the demands "into a riot." He warned of "having a malicious intention behind the scenes to destabilize security", describing this as "playing with fire", at a time when his government is facing a campaign of political forces opposing it.
For his part, said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations that the international organization invites protesters in Lebanon to demonstrate peacefully.
Dujarric emphasized that the United Nations is working closely with Lebanon to respond to the Corona epidemic, and that it is committed to helping it tackle ongoing social and economic challenges.
Since October 17, Lebanon has witnessed popular protests that raise political and economic demands, and its participants have occasionally closed major roads and government institutions.
After 12 days of protests, the protesters forced the Saad Hariri government to resign, and was replaced by the Hassan Diab government on February 11.