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Lebanese Protesters Decry Security Forces' Use of Violence

Associated Press

   Lebanese protesters Thursday decried security forces' use of violence
   during rallies over the past two days, including attacks on journalists
   and the detention of over 100 people.

   Dozens of people, including journalists, rallied outside the Interior
   Ministry denouncing what they said was the systematic use of force
   against members of the media.

   Many raised photos of journalists getting beaten by riot police. Others
   gathered outside the American University of Beirut and a police station
   where dozens have been detained since Tuesday.

   After a period of calm, protests have returned to Lebanon as
   politicians fail to form a new government and an unprecedented economic
   crisis deepens.

   "It has been over 90 days since the beginning of the protests and to
   this day the authorities have completely failed to address the demands
   of the protests," said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle
   East director. "In the past two days, we have seen an escalation on
   both sides."

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