Parliamentary consultations on forming Lebanese gov postponed for 2nd time

The Lebanese Presidency said on its Twitter site, "The President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, responded to the desire of the caretaker head, Saad Hariri, to postpone the parliamentary consultations until next Thursday for further consultation."

Violent clashes broke out yesterday evening between protesters and riot police, in the center of the capital, Beirut, resulting in a number of injuries.

In turn, the Lebanese army said on "Twitter" that "the army units worked in support of the internal security forces yesterday night in central Beirut, to maintain stability and stop the violations, and were able to restore the situation to what it was."

The army statement added that "the interference came as a result of the massive chaos witnessed in downtown Beirut, and this was interrupted by riots, attacks on public and private properties, and firing of explosives towards the security forces."

Aoun last week postponed parliamentary consultations, which aim to name a new head of government, in the hope of reaching a consensus between the Lebanese political forces on the name of the prime minister after Hariri's resignation.

ANHA