Beirut Live Updates: Over 70 Security Officers Injured, One Dead in Clashes With Protesters

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The number of those injured in Saturday's clashes between protesters and security forces in Beirut has risen to 728, according to Al Jazeera.

Earlier, Lebanon's Al-Manar channel reported, citing the emergency medical services, about 490 injured people. 

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The Lebanese army has expelled protesters from the buildings of the economy and energy ministries that were occupied during Saturday's unrest in Beirut, al-Arabiya al-Hadath reported.

Afterward, calm has finally returned to the streets of the Lebanese capital, according to the channel.

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Over 70 law enforcement officers were injured and one died during Saturday's unrest in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s General Security Directorate.

"While carrying out the task to maintain security and order at demonstrations in central Beirut on 8 August, which escalated into riots, 1st Sgt. Tawfiq al-Douayhi was martyred and more than 70 members of the security forces sustained injuries", the directorate said.

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The number of those injured in Saturday's clashes between protesters and security forces in Beirut has climbed to 490, Lebanon's Al-Manar channel reported, citing the emergency medical services.

Previously, the Lebanese Red Cross reported about 238 injured people.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The Lebanese Armed Forces are pulling additional units to downtown Beirut and are taking the situation under control amid ongoing anti-government protests, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene on Saturday.

According to the correspondent, the military is deploying more forces to the central parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese MTV channel reported that the military personnel also arrived at the building of the Energy Ministry after protesters tried to storm it.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A fire erupted on Saturday inside the headquarters of the Lebanese Banks Association after protesters broke into the building amid chaos across Beirut, media said.

The blaze was reported by a Lebanese television channel MTV. Dozens of demonstrators have reportedly stormed the building and trashed offices.

BEIRUЕ (Sputnik) - The Lebanese Armed Forces managed to free the Foreign Ministry building from protesters and did not face resistance, a security source told Sputnik on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, anti-government demonstrators occupied the building and tried to storm several other state institutions of the country.

"The Lebanese military liberated the country's foreign ministry building from protesters without encountering resistance", the source said.

1/2 The Lebanese people have suffered too much and deserve to have leaders who listen to them and change course to respond to popular demands for transparency and accountability.

— U.S. Embassy Beirut (@usembassybeirut) August 8, 2020

#Beirut Demonstrations - UPDATE: #LebaneseRedCross has transported 63 people to nearby hospitals and has treated 175 people at the scene.

— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) August 8, 2020

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‏الأن على جسر الرينغ: عناصر من الجيش يرمون الحجارة بطريقة ممنهجة على المتظاهرين. ‏⁧‫#تسقط_سلطة_الدمار_الشامل‬⁩ ‏⁧‫#سلطة_الاجرام . ‬⁩ ‏.#LEBANONUPRISING ‎#لبنان_ينتفض ‏#PRAYFORLEBANON ‎#لبنان #بيروت ‏#LEBANON #BEIRUTBLAST #BEIRUTEXPLOSION ‎#انفجار_بيروت

Публикация от #لبنان_ينتفض (@lebanonuprising) 8 Авг 2020 в 11:15 PDT

بیروت امشب #لبنان_ینتفض pic.twitter.com/Tagnf0VGaV

— Siavash Hesam. (کریم دواتگر) (@Siavash_Hesami) August 8, 2020

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - European Council President Charles Michel urged Lebanon on Saturday to allow an independent probe to be conducted into the deadly blast that devastated the Beirut port.

"He called for an independent enquiry to shed light on the causes of this catastrophe and offered European expertise," his office said in a press release.

The EU leader travelled to the Lebanese capital on Saturday to "witness the scale" of Tuesday's blast, which killed almost 160 people, injured 5,000 others and left 300,000 homeless.

Michel said the European Union stood by the people of Lebanon and promised its urgent assistance. Nearly $39 million has been mobilized for emergency needs and more than 250 rescuers from EU countries are working on the ground.

Protesters now seizing the Banking Association building in central #Beirut pic.twitter.com/svj1yVxSUV

— George Mastropavlos (@g_mastropavlos) August 8, 2020

#Beirut Demonstrations - UPDATE: #LebaneseRedCross has transported 55 people to nearby hospitals and has treated 117 people at the scene.

— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) August 8, 2020

بعد الخارجية، إقتحام وزارة الإقتصاد

After Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
protesters storm Ministry of Finance#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/rfOUsW3hqu

— Sara Assaf (@SaraAssaf) August 8, 2020

Government forces have begun to send reinforcements into the center of #Beirut as violent riots continue. pic.twitter.com/KVhVJXZpYm

— The Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) August 8, 2020

شعارات غاضبة في ساحة الشهداء .. ورئيس الحكومة يتحدث في الشعر #لبنان_ينتفض #بيروت pic.twitter.com/oNXlECF6UX

— Salman Andary (@salmanonline) August 8, 2020

Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hassan Diab, said that the only way out of the country's deep crisis is early parliamentary elections.

He also said that an investigation into the Beirut port blast will expand until it gets to everyone involved in the deadly explosion. 

The main reason behind the recent explosion in the Beirut port was corruption, Diab said.

"The explosion that shook the port was due to corruption," Diab said during a public address, as broadcast by the AL-Mayadeen broadcaster.

Security officers guarding the Lebanese parliament building have refuted media reports that live rounds have been used during the protests in central Beirut, LBCI News said. 

At least one security officer has been killed during clashes with protesters in central Beirut on Saturday, MTV channel reported.

Lebanon now 💔🇱🇧 Chaos and fire and riots and tear gas and live bullets in the streets of #Beirut 🔥💔🇱🇧 #لبنان_ينتفض https://t.co/yplkzoOmTS

— Queen's Park Media (@ThisQueensPark) August 8, 2020

Fire now in downtown #Beirut behind Le Gray building #BeirutProtests pic.twitter.com/vHJSAMlGUb

— Maya Ammar (@mayaammar) August 8, 2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Lebanese army has sent in its personnel after protesters took over the Foreign Ministry building in Beirut, the Lebanese Al-Jadeed channel reported Saturday.

Earlier in the day, protesters stormed into the building of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry in Beirut and unfurled banners with protest slogans.

Protesters have seized the foreign ministry in Beirut. #beirutprotests pic.twitter.com/T2ZSjjRTHH

— Sune Engel Rasmussen (@SuneEngel) August 8, 2020

The shooting was heard at the scene of anti-government protests in central Beirut on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing local police.

#Beirut right now. Riot forces a throwing teargas in the middle of the people. Unbelievable. #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/NCNMjTOd4n

— Sophia Maier (@_sophiamaier) August 8, 2020

#Beirut Protest: 28 people have been transported to nearby hospitals. 102 people are being treated at the scene. pic.twitter.com/FWIJ7hMVwn

— Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) August 8, 2020

Flag of Lebanon✊🏼: #Lebanon has had mass protests against the govt since 2019 but this demonstration today in #Beirut is one of the biggest protests yet! The Lebanese are in full scale revolt against the govt #LebanonProtests #BeirutExplosion@RevoWatch #breakingnews #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/mK2Jglk5gn

— 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala) August 8, 2020