This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
Violence erupted in Beirut on Saturday as counter-protesters from areas dominated by Hezbollah and Amal clashed with anti-riot police in Martyrs' Square.
The square, a hub of anti-government protests since mid-October, has seen mostly peaceful rallies calling for an overhaul of the state due to perceived corruption, poor services, and economic woes.
However, recent weeks have seen an increase in clashes, with supporters of Hezbollah and Amal attacking protest camps in several cities amid counter-demonstrations.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah urged his supporters to stay calm on Friday, saying that the 'anger' of some of his movement's members had gone 'out of control' but was quickly contained.
On Saturday evening, clashes involving anti-government protesters erupted at the entrance to the street leading to parliament, which was blocked by security forces.
Images showed protesters trying to break through metal police barricades, with officers firing tear gas and beating them.
The demonstrators overturned heavy flower pots and shouted slogans hostile to the security forces and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.
Security services had already used force to disperse anti-government protesters earlier this week.
The protest movement led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri on October 29, and official talks to name his replacement are set to start on Monday.
Lebanon is facing an economic crisis as it forms a new government.
