Water cannon, rubber bullets and tear gas were deployed by police in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Saturday as crowds gathered to protest against the government’s inability to deal with the rubbish collection problems plaguing the city.
Thousands gathered in downtown Beirut on Saturday to demonstrate against governmental dysfunction which has led to garbage piling up on the streets, AP reported.
There are conflicting reports about the number of injured during the violent clashes. AFP reported 16 injured, citing a Red Cross official. According to an online statement from Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) "more than 35 ISF members and a number of protesters were injured during the dispersal of the protest."
Law enforcement told Reuters that the 35 injured included both protestors and police officers.