Demonstrators are shown at BDL in a video posted on @Akhbaralsaha website Wednesday. (screen grab)
BEIRUT — Clashes broke out Wednesday evening between protesters who had gathered in front of Banque du Liban (BDL) in Ras Beirut to protest the depreciation of the Lebanese lira, videos on social media show.
Here’s what we know:
• The sit-in was organized by “Le cri des déposants,” who called for “the overthrow of the political class” responsible for “corruption, crime and impoverishment” and demanded they be held accountable, the NNA reports.
• BDL Governor “Riad Salameh is a thief,” chanted the demonstrators. Protesters also tried to climb the walls surrounding the building, which degenerated into clashes with the Internal Security Forces deployed at the scene.
• According to videos, protesters also blocked the roads surrounding the headquarters of the central bank with burning garbage dumpsters.
• Other protesters also lit a blaze by setting fire to tires, in front of the BDL headquarters in Tripoli, reports L’Orient Today’s correspondent in the region. The Lebanese army was deployed to the scene.