With parliamentary elections in Lebanon happening on May 15, opposition candidates are pushing hard to break through the sectarian-dominated status quo of
Lebanese riot police on Saturday scuffled with student protesters angered by a decision from top universities to adopt a new dollar exchange rate to price tuition – equivalent to a major fee hike.
Near the entrance of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in the city’s Hamra district, security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters who tried to approach the main gate.
Students responded by throwing water bottles and other objects at riot police blocking their path.
It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries.
An occupation of Hamra is underway with thousands of students from both private universities and the public LU gathering to protest the dollarization of tuitions and the broader commodification of education.