Lebanon: Protests rage in Beirut over huge explosion, police fired tear gas

Beirut: Lebanese riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators trying to break through a barrier to get to the parliament building in Beirut on Saturday and shots were heard as protests over this week's devastating explosion grow.

A Lebanese policeman was killed in Saturday's clashes with demonstrators, a police spokesman said. The protests against the ruling political establishment have also left more than 100 people injured and dozens hospitalised. About 10,000 people gathered in Martyrs' Square, some throwing stones. Police fired tear gas when some protesters tried to break through the barrier blocking a street leading to parliament, a Reuters journalist said.

Police confirmed shots and rubber bullets had been fired. It was not immediately clear who fired the shots. The protesters say politicians' negligence led to Tuesday's gigantic explosion that killed 158 people and wounded more than 6,000.

The protests were the biggest since October when thousands of people took to the streets in protest against the ruling elite's corruption, bad governance and mismanagement.