Lebanese protesters attempt to block Ring Bridge in Beirut
Lebanese protesters have attempted on Tuesday to
block a main road in central Beirut known as the Ring Bridge, Al Arabiya’s
correspondent reported.
Al Arabiya’s correspondent described the situation
on Ring Bridge as tense and said it was partially cut off as Lebanese riot
police arrived at the scene.
Hours after anti-riot police were able to
successfully force protesters to relocate from the road, the Ring Bridge was
opened to traffic. Al Arabiya’s correspondent said forces use physical force as
well as tear gas to disperse protesters from the area.
Last week, army soldiers and riot police formed a
barrier separating the protesters from the supporters of the Shia groups on
Ring Bridge as rocks were thrown by both sides, television footage broadcast by
Lebanese media showed at the time.
Lebanon’s economic crisis, long in the making, has
come to a head: Pressure has piled on the Lebanese pound’s 22-year peg to the
US dollar. A hard currency crunch has left many importers unable to bring in
goods, forcing up prices. Banks have restricted dollar withdrawals and blocked
nearly all transfers abroad.
