Lebanon: Thousands mark first anniversary of protest movement

Hundreds took the streets of Lebanese capital on Saturday, marking one year of the beginning of the movement that demanded an end to an increasingly severe economic crisis, which has only deepened since the coronavirus pandemic.

Near Beirut's port, which was the scene of a massive blast on Aug. 4, protesters lit a huge torch in the shape of the Arabic words for "October 17 Revolution."

The flame was lit at 6:07 p.m. (1507 GMT) to mark the moment the explosion occurred.

The blast killed nearly 200, wounded thousands, and caused damage worth billion of dollars.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators gathered outside the central bank and interior ministry, demanding the government end the money controls imposed last year, which deprive people of reaching their savings.

Protests have waned since the first spontaneous movement erupted on Oct. 17, 2019, but ongoing crises keep people on the streets.

"The revolution is lasting and will continue until we bring down the corrupt system that robbed and looted us, and is also responsible for the Beirut explosion," said Samar, a protester in Beirut.

Lebanon's economy has been deteriorating since protests broke out last year and has worsened over the past month due to the coronavirus outbreak and the aftermath of the blast.

Thousands of demonstrators also protested in the cities of Tripoli and Sidon.