March 14 Protesters Clash with Security Forces in Riad al-Solh
A clash erupted on Thursday evening between security forces and protesters from the March 14 youth organizations at the site of the open-ended sit-in demanding the departure of the government at the Riad al-Solh Square in downtown Beirut.
Media reports said some protesters were severely beaten by army troops, army intelligence agents and Parliament Police.
But Parliament Police issued a statement saying its members had nothing to do with the incident.
OTV quoted Speaker Nabih Berri's sources as saying that “Parliament Police had nothing to do with the clash that was caused by one of the protesters.”
Al-Manar television said protesters attacked the army and the security forces.
Protesters at the scene said a 17-year-old comrade was transporting three car tires on a motorcycle to use them to bolster up the tent erected by the National Liberal Party in the face of wind and rain.
“One of the tires slipped by accident and rolled towards the metal barrier erected by the army. When the young man approached the barrier to retrieve the tire, he was intercepted by a number of army troops and Parliament Police, who beat him up severely,” protesters said.
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