Protesters Take Over Ministry of Economy and Trade building in Beirut

Protesters Take Over Ministry of Economy and Trade building in Beirut
Sputnik/Zahraa El Amir

After taking over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, protesters have broken into the Ministry of Economy and Trade.

After entering the building, the protesters extended Lebanese flags from its windows. They also flung papers that had been inside while yelling anti-government chants.

Later, the offices inside the building were set on fire.

Meanwhile, the protests continue in Beirut, involving violent clashes with the security forces who are resorting to tear gas pellets to disperse the protesters.

The Lebanese Red Cross has, as of the time of writing, reported transporting 55 injuries to hospitals, treating another 117 on the ground.

It’s worth noting that Governor of Beirut Marwan Abboud refused the Internal Security Forces’ request that fire trucks be deployed to suppress the protesters.

While the protesters were making their way through the streets of Beirut, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said in a televised speech that the country’s structural crisis can only end by conducting “early parliamentary elections to produce a new political class.”