Lebanese anti-government protesters scuffle with army

Описание: (9 Jul 2015) Dozens of Lebanese supporters of a Christian politician scuffled on Thursday with troops who blocked them from reaching the government building in downtown Beirut where a Cabinet session was underway.
Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, called for the demonstrations following a dispute over security appointments in the government.
Aoun, a former army commander, insisted that the government should make the appointments a priority while government officials said only regular items would be on the agenda.
The meeting ended with an agreement to postpone the discussion until July 23.
Earlier on Thursday, Lebanese soldiers beat back dozens of protesters with batons as they tried to break through a security barrier, triggering hours-long skirmishes at the entrance to the upmarket Beirut souks.
The army said seven soldiers were being treated for various injuries, while the FPM, Aoun's party, said that about 17 protesters were hurt.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 and Aoun has accused Prime Minister Tammam Salam of taking advantage of the presidential vacuum and running the country as if he were president.
Lebanon is the only country in the Arab world with a unique power-sharing system under which the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim.

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