Demonstrators across Lebanon blocked roads and took to the streets Saturday for a 10th consecutive day, defying what they said were attempts by Hezbollah to defuse their movement and despite tensions with the army. The protesters - who have thronged Lebanese towns and cities since October 17 - are demanding the removal of the entire political class, accusing politicians of all stripes of systematic corruption.
Troops clashed with protesters who were trying to block a main road in the Beddawi area near the northern port city of Tripoli on Saturday, according to the state-run National News Agency. At least six civilians were wounded, NNA said. The army said five soldiers and several civilians were wounded when it intervened to stop a fight between area residents and people blocking the road with their cars.
Troops were ultimately "forced" to fire live and rubber bullets into the air when clashes intensified, the military said in a statement. Prime Minister Saad Hariri called for an investigation into the incident, which has come amid what have otherwise been largely peaceful protests. Demonstrators' numbers have declined since October 20, when hundreds of thousands took over Beirut and other cities in the largest demonstrations in years.
The chief of the powerful Shia movement Hezbollah on Friday called on his supporters to leave the streets, warning that any cabinet resignation would lead to "chaos and collapse" of the economy. Hassan Nasrallah's statement sowed divisions among Hezbollah supporters, some of whom were still protesting on Saturday. Hassan Koteiche, 27, from a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut, said he agreed with most of Nasrallah's "excellent" speech, but had some reservations. "This does not mean we are against his discourse but there is a divergence in opinion," he told AFP.
"The main thing I disagree with is his belief that if the government or parliament falls then we would have no alternative," he added. "That is not true. We have alternatives. We have noble and uncorrupt people," who can govern. Main roads remained closed across the country on Saturday. Security forces said they have deployed across the country to open key routes.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019
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