400 Lebanese protesters injured in clashes with police

Almost 400 people were wounded on Saturday during running battles between anti-government protesters and Lebanese security forces in the capital Beirut, rescuers said.

It was the heaviest toll since the protests erupted three months ago, with the Red Cross and Civil Defence saying 377 people at least were rushed to hospital or treated at the scene.

The protest movement rocking Lebanon since Oct. 17 has revived this week, over delays in forming a new cabinet to address the country's growing economic crisis.

Reports also said fire engulfed a protest camp in the evening, burning tents and sending plumes of smoke into the air.

Protesters also threw firecrackers at police.

Security forces sprayed young men with two water cannons and lobbed tear gas over a metal fence to disperse remaining protesters on the wet tarmac.

On Saturday afternoon, demonstrators set out from various spots in Beirut in a march towards the city center under the slogan "We won't pay the price.”

"A direct and violent confrontation is taking place with anti-riot police at one of the entrances to parliament," the Internal Security Forces said on Twitter. _Agencies

Dhaka/AKA