Security forces fire tear gas as Lebanon protesters try to storm government HQ

Retired soldiers and policemen clashed with riot police and troops in Beirut as they demanded better pay (Hussein Malla/AP)

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters, mainly retired soldiers, who tried to break through the fence leading to the government headquarters in Beirut.

The violence came amid widespread anger over economic conditions in the country, where mismanagement by the ruling class has been rampant for years, preceding the economic meltdown that started in late 2019.