Beirut protesters block roads, rally at central bank

Описание: (15 Jan 2020) Protesters in Beirut resumed blocking roads on Wednesday and rallied outside the central bank by nightfall.
Dozens were able to partially block three main roads and temporarily shut down a highway north of the city before the military reopened it.
Lebanese security forces arrested 59 people, the police said on Wednesday, following clashes overnight outside the central bank as angry protesters vented their fury against the country's ruling elite and the worsening financial crisis.
The hours-long clashes that erupted on Tuesday evening also left 47 policemen injured, the security forces said, while some protesters smashed windows on private banks in Beirut's key commercial district.
In a strongly worded statement Wednesday, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, denounced the vandalism but said political leaders had themselves to blame for the situation, stressing the need for them to form a government.
Lebanon is facing its worst economic troubles in decades. One of the most highly indebted countries in the world, it imports almost all basic goods but foreign currency sources have dried up.
The local currency has lost over 60% of its value — dropping for the first time in nearly three decades from a fixed rate of 1,507 pounds to the dollar to 2,400 in just the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, banks have imposed informal capital controls, limiting withdrawal of dollars and foreign transfers in the country.
In three months of protests, this was the first time the commercial center of Beirut had become the scene of clashes. The area, which is also home to theatres and restaurants, was left deserted except for protesters, police and clouds of tear gas.

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