Ruling parties’ offices torched in Lebanon

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A riot police officer fires tear-gas from a launcher against anti-government protesters trying to enter parliament square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon on Dec 14. The recent clashes marked some of the worst in the capital since demonstrations began two months ago. The rise in tensions comes as politicians have failed to agree on forming a new government. (AP)

BEIRUT, Dec 15, (Agencies): Attackers in northern Lebanon set fire to the offices of two major political parties on Sunday, the state-run National News Agency said. The assaults came just hours after the capital Beirut was rocked by the most violent government crackdown on protesters since nationwide demonstrations began two months ago.

Lebanese security forces fired rubber bullets, tear-gas and used water cannons throughout the night to disperse anti-government protesters from the city center – the epicenter of the protest movement in Beirut – and around parliament.

The overnight confrontations in Beirut left more than 130 people injured, according to the Red Cross and the Lebanese Civil Defense. In the northern Akkar district on Sunday, attackers broke the windows and torched the local office for resigned prime minister Saad Hariri’s political party in the town of Kharibet al-Jindi.

In a separate attack in Akkar district, assailants stormed the local office of the largest party in parliament, affiliated with President Michel Aoun and headed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. The party said the contents of the office in the town of Jedidat al- Juma had also been smashed and burned.

Lebanon is facing one of its worst economic crises in decades, and the protesters accuse the ruling political class in place for three decades of mismanagement and corruption. The violence comes a day before the president is due to hold talks with different parliamentary blocs to name a new prime minister on Monday.

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