Anti-Government demonstrators have attempted to block vital highways leading to the Lebanese capital.
Government forces were able to prevent the blockade of Beirut, although there were several clashes between protest activists and soldiers.
Public protests triggered a series of extraordinary measures imposed by the Government to counter the spread of the coronavirus in the country. In addition, the protesters’ dissatisfaction was directed at the policy of the Central Bank of Lebanon, as the Lebanese currency continued to fall against the dollar and reached a new low, having more than doubled in value.
“Down with the bank’s board”, – the protesters chanted near the Central Bank and demanded the dismissal of the financial institution manager, Riad Salame. They smashed several shop windows of bank offices and damaged ATMs.