Scuffles near Lebanon parliament before vote on budget

Dozens of protesters have scuffled with Lebanese security guarding the country’s parliament just as lawmakers met to vote on a controversial austerity budget.

The protesters, most of them army veterans, have been camped near parliament for three days to oppose a draft bill that aims to cut into their pensions, among other measures to reduce public spending.

Dozens of protesters pushed against barricades and scuffled with security personnel Thursday, trying to break through a security cordon around the parliament.

Voting on the budget was due to begin on the third day of discussions in parliament. The scuffles broke out as the minister of finance took to the podium to defend the budget proposal that sparked a public outcry for focusing on increasing taxes and cuts in wages and benefits.