Lebanese army clears protest roadblocks as hospitals warn of medical emergency

President Michel Aoun asked the army and security forces to clear the obstructions

A bandana-clad anti-government demonstrator gestures as she stands by the smoke of burning tires at a makeshift roadblock in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

Protesters took to the streets after the Lebanese pound plummeted to a record 10,000 to the US dollar. AFP

A Maronite priest pleads with anti-government protesters to let him pass with his vehicle as he stands next to burning tyres at a makeshift roadblock in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

Anti-government protesters sit next to burning tyres at a makeshift roadblock in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

Soldiers clear burning tyres set up by anti-government protesters at a makeshift roadblock in Zouk Mosbeh, north of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP

Young men lit tyres on the streets in various cities to show their anger.. AFP

Anti-government demonstrators erect a brick wall to block the highway at the southern entrance of Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli. AFP

Protesters move a tree to block a main highway, during a protest in the town of Jal el-Dib, north of Beirut. AP Photo

A protester smokes a cigarette as he aims to block a road during a protest in Beirut. AP Photo

Protests also occurred in southern Saida, in Qornayel and the Bhamdoun villages in the Mount Lebanon governorate. AP

Tyres burn at a make-shift roadblock made by anti-government demonstrators in the city of Byblos, north of Lebanon's capital. AFP

Demonstrators stand on a bridge as smoke rises from tyres set on fire in Jal el-Dib. Reuters

An anti-government demonstrator draped in the Lebanese national flag stands at a make-shift roadblock in Byblos. AFP

The Lebanese army spent Wednesday clearing roadblocks of burning debris, dumpsters and vehicles, eight days after protesters obstructed roads across the country, angered by the country's economic meltdown and political deadlock.

The delay clearing the roads was partly due to a political row between the chief of the armed forces and President Aoun.

Traffic had returned to normal, but the army deployment remained on the main motorway linking the north and south of the country.

"As a result of the tragic accidents and violations that took place, units of the army started this morning opening closed roads," the Lebanese army said on Twitter.

Tens of protesters had repeatedly blocked and reopened key roads across the country on Tuesday, causing traffic congestion on key motorways leading to and from Beirut.

The traffic jams prompted hospitals to sound the alarm over potential shortages in medical supplies necessary to treat Covid-19 patients as suppliers faced difficulties in delivering oxygen.

Three men were killed in a car accident late on Monday when they drove into a lorry blocking a main motorway in north Lebanon.

By early Wednesday morning, the army had cleared the few remaining roadblocks set up the day before without resistance from protesters. These included the Jiyyeh motorway south of Beirut and Beddawi motorway in north Lebanon.

President Michel Aoun had asked the army and security forces to clear the obstructions on Monday after a meeting with caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab, key members of his Cabinet and top security officials.

But the army, whose commander had warned earlier in the day of the effect the economic crisis was having on the army’s morale, did not immediately intervene to force protesters to clear the roads.

Army chief blames government inaction

"Where are we headed, what are your plans?" the army chief said earlier in the day, addressing Lebanese officials, in unusual public comments over the country's economic woes by a high-ranking security official.

Tuesday was the eighth consecutive day of protests over the country's economic meltdown and political deadlock.

The financial crisis in Lebanon, which erupted in 2019, wiped out jobs, locked people out of their bank deposits and raised the risk of widespread hunger.

Groups of protesters burnt tires daily to block roads since the Lebanese currency tumbled to a new low last week, deepening popular anger over the country's financial collapse.

After the fatal road accident on Monday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al Rai, the country's top Christian cleric, urged caution against chaotic road blocks.

In a sermon he assured demonstrators that he stood by them and felt their pain but that people on the road are not the cause of the country's problems and should not be the ones who are punished.