Several Lebanese soldiers injured in clashes while trying to reopen road

Lebanese protesters threw stones at soldiers as they were trying to reopen the Naimeh Road, south of Beirut on Monday night, the Lebanese army said on their official Twitter account Tuesday, adding that several soldiers were injured.

The army also stated that one protester fired a gun, prompting the military to fire in the air to disperse the protesters.

Meanwhile, there were several attempts to block roads in the northern city of Tripoli to prevent school buses from passing and employees heading to work from reaching their offices, NNA reported. The army immediately arrived and began to open all roads.

A number of other protesters blocked the entrance of the city’s technical institute to protest the difficult living conditions and control of the US dollar exchange rate. Other protesters gathered in front of several educational institutions, government departments and public institutions and asked the departments to stop work, teaching and to shut down. The demands of the protesters were met.

Protesters have been taking to the streets of Lebanon since October 17 and are fueled by deep resentment for a ruling class seen as mired in corruption and having driven the economy into crisis.

“Positive developments coming soon”

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said on Tuesday that “positive developments” would be coming in the next few days, reported Lebanon’s Al Manar TV channel.

The government has been in gridlock following the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in late October. Aoun has refused protesters’ calls to resign and instead blamed corruption for the demonstrations.

He continues to head the caretaker government as it seeks to appoint a new prime minister, following the withdrawal of the government’s candidate Mohammed Safadi as candidate due to popular opposition.