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Libya Peace Summit; U.N. Special Representative Ghassan Salame Comments On The U.S.' Perceived Position In Libya; New Clashes In Beirut; Iran Will Send Downed Plane's Black Boxes To Ukraine. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 19, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over) It's 6:00 pm in Tripoli in Libya, it is 5:00 in Berlin, 8:00 pm here in Abu Dhabi. A very warm welcome to those
of you who are just joining us.
Our big story this hour: 10 years nearly of war, a dozen countries involved, thousands killed. That's Libya, of course. But right now many of
the most powerful countries in the world, some of them involved in keeping the fighting going, are coming together, looking at a way to fix it.
Let's take a closer look at the guest list in Berlin at this hour. German chancellor Angela Merkel hosting this meeting; Russian president Vladimir
Putin, alongside his foreign minister; the British prime minister Boris Johnson. And there's the Turkish President Erdogan.
French president Emmanuel Macron turned up, too and the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo, they're doing the rounds with pretty much everyone.
And that is a big deal as Libya isn't exactly front and center on the D.C. agenda.
There's one moment we want to show you. This is the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, meeting with chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday in Berlin. He made
the rare trip from the UAE, saying he and his nation supported any initiative that would resolve this crisis.
His being there speaks to just how crucial today's summit is. It is crucial for the world that a solution be found in Libya and quickly. Here's a
closer look at how all of the violence has escalated over the years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): It had been hailed a moment of hope: the fall of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. But nearly a decade on, this is what
much of Libya looks like today, the strewn wreckage of a country splintered by conflict between two warring sides.
The Government of National Accord or GNA, runs the capital and much of the country's northwest.
In the east, a parallel government controlling nearly two-thirds of the country. It is led by General Khalifa Haftar and his well-armed liberal
Libyan National Army or LNA.
Neither side, though, is acting in isolation and battlefield Libya has many hands at work. Haftar is generously backed by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and
Egypt, who view political Islam as a threat and see Haftar as the country's last line of defense.
They are joined by Russia and France, while the GNA sees support from Turkey, Qatar and a handful of E.U. states such as Italy. But importantly,
it has the rubber stamp of U.N. legitimacy.
Despite that, it only survives through outside friends of its own and mostly Turkey, who have gotten involved directly. President Erdogan
recently receiving authorization from his parliament to deploy troops there.
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): If Haftar's attacks against the people and legitimate government of Libya
continue, we will never refrain from teaching him the lesson he deserves.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Being there is crucial to President Erdogan's strategic interests beyond the Middle East, burnishing his regional
reputation as a power player. Haftar, though, says, is up for the fight.
GEN. KHALIFA HAFTAR, LIBYAN NATIONAL ARMY (through translator): We hereby except the challenge. We are announcing a mass mobilization of our troops.
We call for a holy fight.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Meanwhile Russia has been bolstering its presence around the Mediterranean. There has been a rising number of reported
Russian mercenaries, supporting Haftar's troops on the ground in Libya.
Moscow claims that they do not represent the Russian state, as they have also claimed in Ukraine. But from Syria to Libya, president Vladimir
Putin's expansionist strategy remains clear.
The United States, on the other hand, is being more capricious.
ANDERSON (voice-over): It launched airstrikes, targeting ISIS and Al Qaeda in 2015 but then pulled its troops amid the surging political violence. Its
position now isn't quite clear.
And in the vacuum of war, chaos.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of migrants using Libya as a dangerous springboard into Europe, the continent, for the most part,
calling for a political solution to the bloody conflict.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, in July of 2019, we're talking, what, six months ago now, the United Nations' special representative in Libya Ghassan Salame proposed
a three-point peace plan.
The first, a truce between the U.N.-backed government of national accord and General Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army.
Second, an international meeting of countries implicated in the conflict that would eventually implement the legally existing arms embargo.
And third, a Libyan meeting that includes an economic track, a military track and a political track.
And the Berlin summit today is Salame's plan coming to fruition. He joined me live from Tripoli and I asked him whether he generally believes this
gathering can get the warring sides in Libya to stop the fighting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GHASSAN SALAME, U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO LIBYA: Berlin was important before the Moscow episode. After the Moscow episode, it becomes vital in
the sense that you need a much larger group of countries to come together and to support and consolidate this truce and transform it into a real
cease-fire.
And to consolidate it through the appointment of monitors, through the neutral monitoring mechanism that is deployed on the ground and through
acceptance by the two parties of this.
Turkey and Russia have a lot of influence right now in Libya. But this does not mean that their will is the one that will exclude the national
interests and the will of other countries involved in the Libyan drama by recognizing that Russia and Turkey have right now a lot of influence in
Libya.
But I wouldn't say that their influence is exclusive of all the other countries who have invested in this issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And so to the conference today and his thoughts on the importance of Berlin but what about Libya's degrading into a war zone.
Well, a few hours ago Germany's foreign minister and I quote: We can't allow Libya to become another Syria.
Well, there are some obvious parallels, so I asked Mr. Salame, when I spoke to him, is what we are seeing in Libya a page out of Syria's playbook?
Have a listen to what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALAME: This is a possibility. I don't rule it out. However, I don't think it's likely because Libya is not Syria. There is not a geographic
contiguity between Libya and Turkey or Russia. And there is no real strong state to defend in Libya. You have to almost re-establish it from scratch.
Three, there is a lot of foreign interference that goes way beyond these two players; that is, Turkey and Russia. I can count like 10 countries
interfering in a way or the other right now in Libya, either through mercenaries or through direct attacks or through the provision of weapons.
So I do believe that there are cases where there is similarity between Syria and Libya. But Libya is not Syria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Maybe so but there is one very dangerous and very similar point. Over the weekend, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned global
leaders about the situation in the country and I quote him here.
"Europe will encounter a fresh set of problems and threats if Libya's legitimate government were to fall."
That being the GNA, according to the Turkish president.
"Terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al Qaeda, which suffered a military defeat in Syria and Iraq, will find a fertile ground to get back
on their feet."
Well, a worry for all for sure and not just for Europe. The U.S. has been worried about the rise of terrorism in Libya, despite standing largely on
the sidelines except today.
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ANDERSON: The secretary of state Mike Pompeo turning up at the summit, voicing support for its goal and shaking hands with many of the leaders and
country representatives. The United States has largely stood on the sidelines of the Libya conflict and is now seemingly attempting to play
catch-up.
I asked Mr. Salame what he understands Washington's conflicting position to be. This is what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALAME: This is the $1 million question. A lot of players and certainly most Libyans do ask the question you are asking. I don't have a very clear
answer to give them.
One thing I am sure of is that the Americans so far have concentrated their action on two areas.
One is a direct fight against terrorism -- and they are quite active and even more active of late than they have been in the past -- and ensuring
the free flow of oil, of Libyan oil, into the international market. And they immediately mobilize when there is a threat to that.
So when these two issues are concerned, I do see a clear American policy. And sometimes we can count on it in order to push for their own mediation
effort. Besides these two points, I don't see a very clear American position concerning the situation on the ground.
There have been quite the vocal, critical of the deployment of the Russian private military firm in Libya. But besides that, yes, America has yet to
decide what kind of line it will choose in Libya. It doesn't look to be very high on the radar screen of the decision-makers in D.C.
ANDERSON: Would you like it to be higher?
What is your message to Washington?
SALAME: You know, a lot of people are interfering in Libya.
The whole question is, to do what?
My own feeling is that, if you interfere, if you engage in order to support the U.N. action plan, which we are trying our best to push forward, they
are welcome. If it is to push for a parallel plan or to disrupt the U.N. plan, you are not welcome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, in response to some of what Mr. Salame and I discussed, the GNA's minister of interior sent me a statement, saying in part, and I
quote, "As long as our country and its citizens are under attack, the Libyan government is duty bound to defend them.
"Any consideration of a permanent cease-fire should be contingent upon a complete withdrawal and dismantling of Haftar's militia, full departure of
his foreign mercenaries and upholding of international law. Nothing less will be credible."
Melissa Bell is following this story from Paris.
And it's interesting. We've been discussing, myself and Mr. Salame, the number of players and this foreign intervention on the ground, this proxy
war you see there. The GNA very much directing their arguments against General Haftar.
You'll hear arguments against Turkey allied with the GNA from may other players and it shows what a chessboard of action this place is.
What is not clear, I mean there are lots of hopes about this conference, you know, hopes that we can build on a cease-fire, foster de-escalation.
What is not clear is whether any of this is going to work long-term.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not clear whether any of this is going to work long-term, Becky, but that crucial first step of coming up with some
kind of deal today between these two leaders, who will not even be meeting physically, these negotiations are happening through the German foreign
minister, going back and forth between the separate rooms they're in, we're told by a source on the ground.
Some kind of deal being struck by them is going to be crucial in that first step if there is to be any hope for the longer term that Ghassan Salame
planned to be put into place.
Of course this deal is going to be crucial. You mentioned, of course, all those countries that are involved. The two biggest groups, perhaps, that
have not been sufficiently involved recently, I'm thinking of the United States on one hand and the European Union on the other.
When you think back to 2011 when all this began it was that U.N.-led intervention so obviously backed by the United States and Europe that had
been such a crucial part of all this. Their withdrawal for various reasons; on one hand, Donald Trump's relative disinterest in what's happening in
Libya.
On the European side, profound divisions about what should be done.
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BELL: When you consider, Becky, that France backs General Haftar, and Italy, the U.N.-backed Tripoli based government, it gives you the
possibility of Europe continuing to play in these roles.
In the absence of that, what's happened is you've got a much greater presence on the ground and, of course, politically of Russia on one hand
and Turkey on the other.
One of the questions today is whether it is too late to come back from that or whether that communique could be agreed on today, which will allow some
hope that perhaps longer term a solution can be found -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Melissa Bell is on the ground, covering what is an extremely important meeting there in Berlin. We are not done talking Libya. Thank
you, Melissa.
A look at the humanitarian crisis on the ground as we continue to consider the importance of a long-lasting cease-fire there.
Also ahead on the show, these are live pictures out of Beirut for you. You can see protesters, well, they have been. This has been a stand-off between
protesters and security forces, each on the other side of the barricade, as it were. It's pretty grisly stuff in the Lebanese capital. We're going to
get there after this.
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ANDERSON: Well, it is 20 past 6:00 in the evening in Beirut and this is the story there. It has been nearly a day since violent protests
overwhelmed the central district near parliament. It does, sadly, look as if things could be picking up there once again. I'm going to get you on the
ground there in just a moment.
Before that, I want to get back to our top story, finding a long-lasting peace or cease-fire in Libya. All of the big players in what's largely a
proxy war have arrived in Berlin. German chancellor Angela Merkel hosting the summit. Its mission, to get the warring sides in Libya to agree to stop
the fighting.
Earlier, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with one of the sides, Libya's national recognized prime minister, Fayez al Siraj. Also at the
summit, his enemy, renegade general Khalifa Haftar there on the right of your screen.
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ANDERSON: Their fighting has left Libya devastated. This civil war has been filled with horrifying moments. I want to take you back to that
devastating airstrike that hit a migrant center back in July.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): An attack on innocent civilians in the dead of the night. Emergency workers struggling to identify victims and body parts in
the rubble of an airstrike. Parts of the Tajoura migrant detention center were brought to the ground. Many inside had no chance.
Those who did survive rushed to recover their few possessions. The center held at least 600 men, women and children from other countries, refugees
and migrants who'd fled other horrors, violence, persecution and economic repression in the search for a better life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Amnesty International says that in Libya the, quote, "conflict has also exacerbated the already dire predicament of thousands of
migrants and refugees in the country."
Donatella Rovera joins me now. She's a senior crisis response adviser at Amnesty International.
I think you and I will agree, it is so important that these warring parties plus their backers are all gathered in Berlin as we speak. You say
protection of civilians should be at the top of the agenda at the Berlin conference.
How so?
DONATELLA ROVERA, SENIOR CRISIS RESPONSE ADVISER, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Well, it's really important that a unity of purpose is found at this
conference, not just to break the deadlock between the warring parties in Libya but also the difference of opinion and of positions by the very many
outside parties that are involved in fueling the conflict, the enablers of this conflict, those who are providing weapons, military equipment,
mercenaries of different types.
We've seen just recently Turkey sending in Syrian fighters. We've seen increasing reports of Russian mercenaries on the ground. We've seen
evidence on the ground of drone strikes by United Arab Emirates.
And so, you know, if there is a kind of a tentative cease-fire, it's very fragile and has been broken numerous times over the last few days. It's
possible that another cease-fire will be agreed at the conference.
But really what needs to be resolved are the structural problems that Libya has been suffering for eight years. That is militias running wild on both
sides of the conflict, launching indiscriminate attacks that hit civilian areas, fighting from within areas.
It just seems that on the one hand the warring parties in Libya are not concerned with the fate of the civilians.
And the members of the international community that are interested in Libya are really only looking at Libya through the prism of oil and migrants;
i.e., the oil should keep flowing and Libya should hold back the migrants who are trying to reach Europe at all costs.
The international community has not invested itself in trying to bring a durable solution to the Libya problem.
ANDERSON: And I understand what you say and there will be many people watching the show that will agree with you when you say this long-term
solution requires the international community, notably the European Union, to stop looking at Libya through the migration and oil lenses.
The question is, aside from a family photo, as it is called, and a commitment to do better, what specifically do you believe we might get out
of this conference?
And what do you want to hear from this conference, which will make you believe that there is some sincere will from all parties to get this
conflict sorted?
ROVERA: Well, we've already seen some of the backers express opinions and requests of one side or the other. The reality is that there is no good guy
in Libya at the moment.
Both parties, those who are the militias who are fighting on behalf of the U.N.-backed government and the militias who are fighting on behalf of the
renegade General Haftar, they are as bad as each other.
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ROVERA: They have been showing repeatedly that they don't care about civilians. They have been launching attacks that are indiscriminate and
hurt civilians.
Unless real pressure is put on them to stop that behavior and mechanisms are put in place to ensure that there are sanctions if there is no -- if
there are continued violations of international law, until now, both parties have been acting with impunity.
And different parties within the international communities have been backing one side or another. So that is what needs to be. It's that
deadlock that needs to be broken on the ground --
(CROSSTALK)
ROVERA: -- and by those participating in Berlin.
ANDERSON: The devastation on the most vulnerable cannot be ignored. CNN reported that children are being maimed, killed or recruited for fighting.
This is according to UNICEF. Hospitals, schools and other infrastructure that kids depend upon for their well-being and survival has also come under
attack.
What is your appeal today?
ROVERA: Amnesty International is calling on all parties in Libya to end the indiscriminate and reckless attacks that have killed so many civilians,
maimed so many civilians and that forced 150,000 civilians to flee their homes.
Amnesty is also calling on those parties who are meeting in Berlin to put aside their differences and to back the arms embargo, which has been in
force but not been respected. That is what is fueling the conflict.
And if there is any chance of bringing about durable change, it cannot happen without those two very important actions.
ANDERSON: With that we're going to leave it there. I thank you very much indeed for joining us.
We keep one eye on what is going on, of course, in Berlin, which is an extremely important meeting and we will ensure that we stay on the parties
involved to ensure, try to ensure that there is some long-lasting solutions and peace for Libya.
The other eye today is on Beirut. I'll bring you some live pictures from Beirut. We are seeing protesters hurling what appear to be rocks at
security services and the reply has been water cannon and a lot of it. We'll get you there in just a few moments. Stay with us.
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Well, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. In a weekend of protests overwhelming Beirut's central district near the parliament building, live
pictures now. It looks like things picking up once again. Today the army has been on the streets, called in by Lebanon's president to restore calm.
On Saturday, the city saw the most intense violence that it has seen since demonstrations began and we're talking 90-100 days ago now. Officials say
hundreds were injured. Ben Wedeman is our Beirut correspondent joining me now.
Ben, you are no stranger to protests. Just explain what you are seeing and hearing around you now.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We are near -- around the corner are the Lebanese security forces which this evening are at it
again. There have been clashes between protesters and the police.
We saw just a moment ago they were firing a water cannon and throwing rocks at the demonstrators who were throwing rocks back. (INAUDIBLE) So it does
appear that it's a repeat of yesterday. The numbers somewhat less than yesterday.
But the passion is the same, still anger at the ruling elite, which seems incapable of addressing Lebanon's problems, incapable of forming a new
government -- Becky.
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ANDERSON: Ben, I'm not sure if you can hear me. If you can take your mic off and put it a little closer to your mouth, that would be extremely
useful.
We're looking at these pictures.
Just how concerned are you -- that's great, Ben -- as I said, you are no stranger to protests. You've seen them in Hong Kong and Egypt, in Gaza. And
you've been -- you've been watching these protests.
Just how concerned are you at this point?
WEDEMAN: Well, I think the concern goes beyond the protests to the economic financial condition of Lebanon. And what we've seen is these
protests have been going on for three months, largely peaceful but they have yielded very little.
And as the economic situation becomes more difficult, so does the anger on the street. People are chanting here "Revolution, revolution," and just the
impatience is starting to boil over as Lebanon's situation, economically, politically, financially, becomes worse and worse.
I hope you can hear me better now -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, I can, Ben. And we hear the chanting.
If you can just explain once again what these protesters are chanting.
And who are these protesters?
Has the profile of those on the streets changed over the weeks and months?
WEDEMAN: OK, what they're chanting is "Revolution, revolution."
They come from across Lebanon.
The water cannon is at it again.
Now what has changed is that as the demonstrations become increasingly more volatile, there is -- the profile is people are younger, there are more
young men than young women but there are many young women in the crowd as well.
But yes, it's less of a sort of a festive atmosphere that you yourself saw in the early days in Martyrs Square and it's a much more combative, much
more angry atmosphere than it was back then.
As I said, the situation, people are losing their work, they can't have access to their savings in the banks because of the financial crisis. Some
people are not getting paid, although they're expected to work still. Some people are only getting half their salaries.
And, therefore, the anger is not just about the formation of a new government, which, in a sense, is immaterial when you look at the
macroeconomic crisis that Lebanon faces. Really the sort of bread-and- butter issues overwhelm the whole political crisis or the political vacuum that exists here today.
So as you can see, people seem to be moving back, moving forward again, toward the street on the left, where you can see what appears to be tear
gas rising from around the corner.
Those blasts I assume are stun grenades being thrown by the security forces. Last night we saw the full array of crowd dispersal weaponry at the
disposal of the Lebanese security forces.
We saw them using tear gas, water cannons as well as rubber bullets fired from shotguns, which is something relatively new. So here they are, firing
that water cannon again, trying to keep people back -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben, just to remind our viewers, you may not have been to Beirut or may not recognize downtown Beirut when they see these scenes. This is
the heart of what should be a functioning, vibrant city. This is where the shops are, where the fun is had, correct?
This is the scene this Sunday evening.
WEDEMAN: Yes, this is the area which was rebuilt as a project by the former assassinated prime minister of Lebanon. But even this area is the
focus of a lot of discontent because this was a middle class area, an area with poor people as well, who were essentially forced out of this area.
And it became sort of a high-end, posh area for fancy expensive shops and cafes and restaurants.
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WEDEMAN: An area that ordinary people simply couldn't afford to come to; whereas before, when I lived in Lebanon, at the time of the beginning of
the civil war, this was a much more lively, much more authentic area.
And therefore, yes, but this area has been largely dead for several years because of the lack of money available. So a lot of these high-end shops
have closed as a result of Lebanon's financial straits -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben, I'm going to take a very short break at this point but do stay with us. Stay safe, of course. Don't put yourself in any danger.
But these images extremely important for the world to see. Protesters sick to death with the political paralysis in this country, a week of rage. And
these are the scenes Sunday night in Beirut. Taking a very short break. Back after this.
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ANDERSON: I just want to get you these scenes in Beirut. Again now, it's just coming up on 7:00 pm on a Sunday evening. You are looking at live
pictures from the city's downtown area.
It's meant to be busy right now with people milling around the shops and restaurants there. But it is busy but not for the right reasons. It's a
part of town that is home to many government operations and these are the scenes.
Protesters in a standoff against the security forces there. We have seen water cannon fired, rocks being thrown and we're going to get back to these
images shortly, keeping an eye on them for you.
Iran, meantime, says it's currently examining the black boxes from the Ukrainian airliner it mistakenly shot down. Iranian media reports that
officials are rejecting reports that the flight and data recorders are being investigated in Ukraine. The head of Iran's civil aviation chief says
no decision has been made on sending the black boxes to another country.
All 176 people on board, as you are well aware, were killed when the Ukrainian military downed the Ukrainian airliner earlier this month. Iran
says they mistook the plane for a cruise missile.
Meanwhile the bodies of the Ukrainian victims of that air crash have been returned home for burial. The plane landed in Kiev early on Sunday. The 11
victims' caskets were met on the tarmac by the country's president. CNN's Senior International Correspondent, Sam Kiley has more from the Ukrainian
capital for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Eleven of the 176 victims of the Ukrainian airliner that was shot down close to Tehran by
Iranian surface-to-air missiles returned home, met today by dignitaries, the president of the country and fellow crew members.
[11:45:00]
KILEY: Nine of the victims of those Ukrainians were air crew, just two were regular passengers in this aircraft that fell a tragic victim to
international politics, a stand-off that came close to war between the United States and Iran.
This aircraft was shot down in the hours immediately following an Iranian series of surface-to-surface missiles attacking the United States inside
Iraqi territory. There were no victims from that attack but there most certainly were victims from this catastrophic accident that the Iranians
have admitted to.
Nonetheless, these victims are now going to be taken home to be buried in their home areas, surrounded by their families, at a time when Ukraine is
also at the center of an international storm, focused on Washington, D.C., where the United States Senate is soon to conduct a trial, an impeachment
trial into its own president over allegations that the United States president tried to interfere in domestic politics here for domestic
political gain in the United States.
But for now, Ukraine is very much focused on mourning those that died in this tragic aircraft accident -- Sam Kiley, CNN in Kiev.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I will be back in a moment, connecting you to the streets of the Lebanese capital. We bring up the scenes -- well, these are the scenes
there as we speak. Stay with us.
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ANDERSON: A weekend of protests overwhelming Beirut's central district near the parliament building.
You are looking at live pictures and it looks like things could be picking up once again this Sunday evening. The army has been on the streets, called
in by Lebanese president to restore calm. On Saturday the city saw the most intense violence it's seen since demonstrations began way back before the
December break.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Back in October in fact. Officials say hundreds of people Saturday were injured. Our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman
now explains what is behind the anger.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Protesters charge the riot police in Beirut's Martyrs Square.
The Lebanese capital witnessed the most violent clashes yet in a mass uprising that, until this week, had been largely peaceful. But peaceful no
more.
For months, the country's politicians have dithered and bickered over the formation of a new government while the faltering economy has gone from bad
to worse.
"The state is ours," says this young man.
But in this political vacuum, the state is barely functioning. The protesters and police battled it out throughout downtown Beirut. Police
fired hundreds of rounds of tear gas, sprayed the demonstrators with water cannons and eventually fired rubber bullets into the crowd.
The demonstrators responded, lobbing fireworks and rocks. Emergency services report hundreds were wounded Saturday night, including many
members of the including many members of the security forces. Protesters surrounded and beat one policeman, who managed to escape, although not
without serious injury.
Late in the evening, Lebanese President Michel Aoun ordered the security forces, including the army, to impose order. Dozens were arrested. Order
was restored, for now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Lebanon's caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri has spoken out against the violent protests, saying in a statement, and I quote, "Beirut
will not be an arena for mercenaries and deliberate policies to strike the peacefulness of popular movements."
Well, let's get you right down to where these new clashes Sunday night are playing out. CNN's Ben Wedeman in amongst it.
Ben, what can you see and hear at this point?
WEDEMAN: Well, what we're seeing at the moment is -- somebody is trying to get in front of us -- is these clashes that have been going on now about 40
minutes. This is where they started yesterday, just around the corner from the Lebanese parliament.
You've already seen water cannons being fired. You're hearing these explosions. It's hard to tell if they are fireworks being thrown by the
protesters or stun grenades used by the security forces.
There's also been tear gas, obviously fired. And we were listening as they were chanting that they want to get inside the parliament, which, at the
moment, of course, is simply not in operation.
Yes, they are firing a water cannon (INAUDIBLE). So it does appear that we are in for another very noisy, busy night here in Beirut. We understand
that the designate prime minister Hassan Diab has met this evening with -- OK.
I'm going to try to speak a little louder. It's hard to make myself heard wearing a gas mask. But we understand that Hassan Diab, the designate prime
minister, met with the president of Lebanon Michel Aoun this evening for what may be the last stage in the formation of a new government.
Lebanon has essentially been without a government since late October. But the feeling is, government or no government, Lebanon's problems are not
political; they are fundamentally economic. The economy is in miserable shape.
[11:55:00]
WEDEMAN: And the politicians seem largely tone-deaf to the suffering of ordinary Lebanese, who increasingly simply do not have the wherewithal to
buy the basic needs of life -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. Ben, thank you for struggling through. It's not easy to hear what you're saying but certainly we can hear what is going on around
you.
Let's just take a look at these images because this is downtown Beirut. Sadly, these are the images of protesters now in a stand-off with security
forces. It's been going on now since last night.
It has to be said with a lull and a lull since protests began three or four months ago. There had been a quiet period but it seems now a week of rage
called by protesters being answered by those who have once again hit the streets.
You can see protesters there up against the security forces, throwing what could be fire bombs or Molotov cocktails, unclear really, difficult to see.
But there's clearly antagonism now on both sides. Fireworks and ripped branches from trees are being used against security forces who have been
firing rubber bullets and tear gas into these crowds.
Sadly, the pictures of Beirut this Sunday evening. I'm Becky Anderson. You have been watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Do stay with CNN for more.
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