A woman walks inside the damaged municipality building that was set ablaze overnight, in the aftermath of protests against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tripoli, Lebanon January 29, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - Lebanon s caretaker prime minister and its president on Friday condemned overnight violence in the city of Tripoli, where protesters angry over a strict lockdown clashed with security forces and set the municipality building on fire.
Thursday was the fourth straight night of unrest in one of Lebanon s poorest cities, after the Beirut government imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 2,500 people and compounded an economic crisis.
UPDATE 1-Lebanese leaders condemn violence after Tripoli unrest Reuters 1/29/2021 Tripoli is Lebanon s poorest city, prone to unrest Billionaire native says may have to carry arms for protection (Adds President Aoun, former premier Mikati, protester comment)
TRIPOLI, Lebanon, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Lebanon s caretaker prime minister and its president on Friday condemned overnight violence in the city of Tripoli, where protesters angry over a strict lockdown clashed with security forces and set the municipality building on fire.
Thursday was the fourth straight night of unrest in one of Lebanon s poorest cities, after the Beirut government imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 2,500 people and compounded an economic crisis.
Violent protests in locked-down Lebanon
Flames rise from the municipality building that was set on fire during protests against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, in Tripoli, Lebanon, January 28. Clashes continue between security forces and protesters angry over a strict.more Reuters / Thursday, January 28, 2021 Flames rise from the municipality building that was set on fire during protests against the lockdown and worsening economic conditions, in Tripoli, Lebanon, January 28. Clashes continue between security forces and protesters angry over a strict lockdown that has cut off livelihoods in a collapsing economy.
REUTERS/Walid Saleh Close 1 / 23
A woman inspects the damage inside the municipality building that was set ablaze overnight in Tripo
UPDATE 5-In locked-down Lebanon, protester killed in night of unrest Reuters 1/28/2021
(Adds municipality building set on fire)
By Ellen Francis and Walid Saleh
BEIRUT/TRIPOLI, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A man was killed in the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday in clashes between security forces and protesters angry over a strict lockdown that has cut off livelihoods in a collapsing economy.
Omar Taybah, 30, was hit by a bullet overnight, according to a local hospital that treated him, a security source and residents. Dozens marched at his funeral during the day.
Witnesses and local media said police had fired live bullets as protesters tried to storm the northern city s government building. Scores of people were wounded.