Police Remove Illegal Stands in Beirut Southern Suburb, Owners Burn Tires in Protest

Angry owners of illegal coffee vending vehicles and kiosks in the southern suburb of Hay el-Sellom burned tires on Wednesday protesting the state's removal of their unauthorized structures, the State-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

NNA said that units from the Internal Security Forces have removed at 4:00 a.m. a number of illegal and unauthorized coffee vending vehicles and kiosks from a parking lot in Hay al-Sellom.

Owners of the stalls have protested the move and gathered at the location at 7:00 a.m. setting car tires on fire in objection, NNA added.

NNA added that some armed presence was reported in the area and that the security forces together with the municipal police managed to peacefully disburse the protestors.