Clashes between police, Lebanese protesters wound almost 400

BEIRUT - 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 Sunday 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.

Sunday 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 from figures provided by the Red Cross and Civil Defence.

A photographer at the scene said security forces fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing protesters as thick clouds of tear gas covered central Beirut.

'Police abuse' 

On Sunday, 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.

Human Rights Watch denounced what it called "the brutal use of force unleashed by Lebanon's riot police against largely peaceful demonstrators".

"Riot police showed a blatant disregard for their human rights obligations, instead launching tear gas canisters at protesters' heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking people at hospitals and a mosques," said its deputy Middle East director Michael Page.

The authorities must act quickly "to end this culture of impunity for police abuse", he said.

Saturday's clashes began after dozens of protesters, some concealing their faces with scarves, threw rocks and plant pots at anti-riot police guarding the road leading to parliament in Beirut.

Others tried to breach barbed wire barricades to reach the legislature building or charged police lines using traffic signs.

The security forces responded with water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Protesters had called for a week of "anger" as an economic crisis deepened while efforts remained deadlocked to form a new government to replace a leadership that stepped down under street pressure last year.

'Stop wasting time' 

The Civil Defence said 43 people were taken to hospital, and 114 others treated at the scene over slight injuries or "breathing problems".

The Red Cross said it had rushed 80 people to hospitals while 140 were given first aid on site.

The state-run National News Agency said around 30 people were briefly detained.

Security forces said they had opened an investigation after a video shared online showed police beating up people believed to be protesters as they were brought to a Beirut police station.

"Another day without a government, another night of violence and clashes," UN envoy to Lebanon Jan Kubis said on Twitter, summing up the country's situation since October.

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who stepped down on October 29 under pressure from the protesters, urged political parties to "stop wasting time".

"Form a government and pave the way towards political and economic solutions," he said.

Political factions agreed on December 19 to appoint former education minister Hassan Diab as the new premier but have since squabbled over proposed ministers.

The protesters have demanded that a new government be comprised solely of independent experts, and exclude all established political parties they accuse of being motivated by personal and partisan gains.

The World Bank has warned the poverty rate in Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the population if the political crisis is not resolved soon.