400 hurt in Lebanon anti-govt protest

Almost 400 people were wounded during running battles between Lebanese anti-government protesters and security forces in Beirut Saturday, rescuers said, the heaviest toll since the demonstrations erupted three months ago.

More street rallies were expected late yesterday as part of popular protests since October 17 that have demanded the wholesale ouster of the Lebanese political class, which activists condemn as inept and corrupt.

Yesterday morning, the streets were mostly empty as rain fell on the centre of Beirut, with police cars guarding the entrances to the main protest hub at Martyrs’ Square.

On a side street leading towards the seat of government, a tea pot lay among black cinders on the pavement where unknown perpetrators set fire to protest tents the night before.

Ali, a 34-year-old who had camped in one of the tents, said he had lost his belongings in the blaze and was left with “just the clothes I’m wearing and the papers I had in my pocket”.

But “the attack made us stronger. We will continue with even more energy to speak out the truth,” he said, as he huddled around a wood fire next to the wreckage wrapped in a thick blanket.

On Saturday, at least 377 people were injured -- both protesters and members of the security forces -- according to a toll compiled by AFP from figures provided by the Red Cross and Civil Defence. 

An AFP photographer at the scene said security forces fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing protesters as thick clouds of tear gas covered central Beirut.Yesterday, social media users and a local television channel shared the testimonies of relatives of at least two young men they said were hit in the eyes by rubber bullets.