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In Lebanon, Peaceful Protests Turn Violent
(Washington Post) Liz Sly - More than 400 people were treated for injuries after weekend riots in Beirut in the worst violence since Lebanese took to the streets in October to demand a new government. "Lebanon is being pushed to the brink of chaos and anarchy," said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center. The protesters said they had decided on a more forceful approach because three months of peaceful demonstrations had failed. The value of the Lebanese currency plunged by half in three months, and ordinary people are prevented from accessing their savings. Employers have stopped paying salaries, hospitals are running out of medicines, and people are going hungry as the economy skids to a halt.