Tension as Hezbollah supporters crash protest camp

(29 Oct 2019) Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters rampaged through the main anti-government protest camp in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday, torching tents, smashing plastic chairs and chasing away protesters. Riot police raced through the streets but seemed powerless to stop the counter-protesters, who chanted Shiite religious slogans. Scuffles initially broke out early Tuesday as the men cleared protesters from main roads, before they launched their assault on the main protest site in Beirut, where demonstrators had been camped out for nearly two weeks. The rampage marked a violent turning point in Lebanon's protests, which have called for the resignation of the government and the overthrow of the political class that has dominated the country since its 1975-1990 civil war. The government is dominated by factions allied with Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the country. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...