Police fire more tear gas on Lebanon protesters

Riot police and protesters continued clashes in Beirut on Wednesday for the second night of violence. Riot police extensively used tear gas to disperse protesters, some of whom, threw canisters back towards police.

At least 35 people were injured, mostly from gas inhalation or rock throwing, according to the Red Cross. Ten were treated at the scene. For the second night in a row, some protesters smashed the windows of a private bank and destroyed a nearby ATM machine.

Elsewhere in Beirut, protesters resumed blocking roads and rallied outside the central bank by nightfall. Dozens were able to partially block three main roads and temporarily shut down a highway north of the city before the military reopened it.

In three months of protests, this was the first time the commercial centre of Beirut had become the scene of clashes. The area, which is also home to theatres and restaurants, was left deserted except for protesters, police, and smoke from the tear gas.