March to commemorate Armenian genocide, attempt to break into Turkish embassy

In exactly three years, Armenians will commemorate the first centennial of the Armenian genocide. In preparation for this event, Lebanese Armenians decided that this year’s celebration would be different from years past.     

A popular march kicked off from the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate in Antelias and was concluded near the Turkish embassy in Rabiyeh were celebrations to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian genocide took place following a long day of masses and prayers. Armenian parties had mobilized all their partisans, calling on them to participate in this march.          
However, the march nearly deviated from its course when protestors found themselves facing a tight security cordon; rows of heavy barbed wires surrounded the Turkish embassy and human shields formed by security forces and police in full riot gear, stood guard with water cannons at the ready.      

Protestors threw water bottles, stones and firecrackers at the security forces standing at the embassy’s entrance. They insulted Turkey and its leaders, and when they tried to break through the barrier, party representatives and MPs intervened, standing between protestors and security forces behind the wires.           

Protestors did not leave before setting fire to several Turkish flags and raising a banner on the embassy’s wall stating “we refuse Turkish-Armenian relations”.