BEIRUT, Jan 26 (NNN-NNA) – Five protesters and three members of the Internal Security Forces were injured in Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon, when protests triggered clashes.
Protesters gathered near the headquarters of Tripoli government, to demonstrate against the ongoing lockdown in the country, then started to throw stones at security forces, which caused the injury to three security officers.
Riot police responded by firing tear gas and using batons to disperse the crowd. Dozens of the protesters were arrested on site.
Tripoli witnessed, yesterday, several protests against a possible lockdown extension in the country, as many people said the strict lockdown measures crippled the economy and deteriorated their life.
Jalal Salma, one of the protesters, said that they march every day to demonstrate against the city’s closure.
“Tripoli is a poor city and most of its residents rely on earning an income from their daily work; depriving people of work means they will likely starve to death.”
The Lebanese government imposed a total lockdown until Feb 8, to curb the pandemic. Doctors in the country called for an extension of the lockdown as the virus continues to spread quickly.
Lebanon registered yesterday, 2,652 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the tally to 282,249. The death toll went up by 54 to 2,374, the health ministry reported.– NNN-NNA
