Demonstrations in Lebanon end in confrontation with 200 wounded

In Beirut, Lebanon'scapital, thousands of demonstrators marched saturday, 18, toward Parliament to protest against the country's politicians accused of bringing the economy into the financial crisis. Police used tear gas bombs and water cannons to disperse them, but a battle between authorities and protesters took place at the scene. The confrontation left more than 200 people injured.

According to the Red Cross, both protesters and police had to receive medical care. Images on social media show civilians throwing stones, firing fireworks and throwing molotov cocktails at security forces, which responded with gas bombs and jets of water.

On Twitter, Lebanon's police directorate said its officers were exposed to violent and direct attacks on one of the accesses to Parliament. For this reason, the agency called for the "peaceful protesters" to stay away from the scene. With cries of "we will not pay the price", today's demonstration earned the name "Saturday of anger".

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned in October due to street pressure, but who remains in power on an interim basis until a new government is formed, denounced that there were "acts of sabotage" to threaten the country's "social peace."