Protesters, security forces face off in Beirut

Lebanese security forces faced off with anti-government protesters on Monday, who closed major roads leading to the parliament building in downtown Beirut. The confrontation comes ahead of a two-day discussion by the legislature to approve the country's budget.

Thousands of troops and riot policemen were deployed on major roads in the city and its suburbs as protesters blocked roads to prevent legislators from reaching parliament. Protesters, who have been demonstrating for more than three months against the ruling elite that has been running the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war, have rejected the new 20-member government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab that was announced last week.

In November, thousands of protesters closed roads leading to parliament forcing a postponement of a legislative session after most legislators were not able to reach the legislature. Over the past days, security forces have set up concrete walls around parliament and the nearby government headquarters known as the Grand Serial.

During the two-day session, parliament is scheduled to discuss the budget that was draft by the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri who resigned in late October. Over the past two-week, downtown Beirut witnessed riots that left more than 500 civilians and policemen injured.

Lebanon has one of the world's highest public debts in the world, standing at more than 150% of gross domestic product. Growth has plummeted, and budget deficit reached 11% of GDP in 2018 as economic activities slowed and remittances from Lebanese living abroad shrank.

(Image Credit: AP)