A man was killed while scores of people were wounded in the Lebanese city of Tripoli as anti-lockdown protest continued for fourth consecutive day.
The protesters, angry at the 24-hour strict lockdown that has cut off livelihoods in a collapsing economy, clashed with security forces. Police fired live bullets at the protesters as a result of which Omar Taybah, 30, was killed last night. Dozens attended his funeral during the day.
Witnesses and local media said police opened fire as protesters tried to storm the northern city’s government building.
Security forces said they fired live rounds to disperse rioters who set the building’s guard room on fire and ripped out a gate.
People returned into Tripoli’s main square later in the evening.
Police fired tear gas at protesters hurling Molotov cocktails. Flames engulfed the municipality as it caught fire just before midnight.
It was the fourth straight night of unrest in one of poorest cities of Lebanon, after the government imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb resurgence of coronavirus that has killed more than 2,500.
Aid workers warn that the lockdown is piling extra hardship on the poor with little government aid.
Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into Thursday’s death.
Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab has said the coronavirus lockdown was necessary.
Hospitals, fighting some of the region’s highest infection levels, were facing supply shortages.
Lebanon’s unprecedented financial meltdown, started in 2019, erupted into protests against leaders who oversaw decades of state graft.
