Lebanon's parliamentary speaker calls for calm after clashes

Lebanon's parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri has called for calm and warned against violence in the wake of more clashes between supporters of Shiite groups and security forces, Reuters reports.

In a statement on Tuesday, Berri and former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, the country’s top leaders, called for the Lebanese people "not to get dragged toward strife" and maintain peace.

Security forces lobbed tear gas to disperse supporters of the Shiite Amal party, of which Berri is a member.

The latest tensions arose after a video of a man cursing the Amal party and religious leader began circulating online.

Unrest has plagued Lebanon since Hariri resigned as prime minister in October after weeks of anti-government protests. He has remained as a caretaker prime minister as the country's main parties try to find a way to agree on a new government.

(Cover: Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah and Amal groups hurl fireworks at security forces early on December 17, 2019 in central Beirut. Lebanon's president yesterday postponed consultation to select a new prime minister after weeks of largely peaceful street protests descended into weekend violence. ANWAR AMRO / AFP)

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)