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Tear gas fired at protesters in Beirut

Tear gas fired at protesters in Beirut

Demonstrators gathered at Riad al-Solh Square in Beirut during a protest, March 22, 2023. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)

BEIRUT — Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators gathered Wednesday in downtown Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square who had gathered during a meeting of the joint committees of the Parliament that started in the morning.

Several local TV stations showed images of demonstrators being dispersed by tear gas fire, some shouting and fleeing Riad al-Solh Square.

The mobilization had started at Martyrs Square around 11 a.m. at the call of depositors' collectives, military retirees and some Forces of change MPs. Several hundred people participated in this gathering.

Parliament's Finance and Budget, Administration and Justice, Health, Labor and Social Affairs, and Foreign Affairs and Public Works committees were scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

Lebanon has been in the throes of a double executive vacancy for months, with no president since the end of former head of state Michel Aoun's mandate on Oct. 31, and no fully fledged cabinet since May 2022 parliamentary elections.

Najib Mikati's outgoing government has been handling affairs in caretaker mode in the meantime. 

BEIRUT — Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators gathered Wednesday in downtown Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square who had gathered during a meeting of the joint committees of the Parliament that started in the morning.Several local TV stations showed images of demonstrators being dispersed by tear gas fire, some shouting and fleeing Riad al-Solh Square. The mobilization had started at...