Caption: Monrovian police detain a protester during a demonstration called by the organizers of the June 7 protest in the Liberian capital Monrovia on July 31, 2019. (Photo by AFP)
Liberian police have clashed with hundreds of people who took to the streets of the capital Monrovia to protest against corruption and price hikes under former soccer star-turned-President George Weah.
Scores of civil society associations, including youth activists dubbed the Council of Patriots (COP) who helped the 52-years-old Weah take office, participated in the march on Wednesday and urged the government to improve living conditions amid soaring inflation.
Police fired tear gas to prevent the protesters from nearing the parliament building in the capital, while the demonstrators hurled stones and bottles at officers.
At least five people were arrested during the rally.
“Council Of Patriots announced a renewed and continued protest from Wednesday July 31th until all of our demands are met,” Henry Costa, Chairman of the COP, said previously.
The protest is in the second major rally since thousands gathered in early June.
Last month, COP gave Weah a string of demands, including improving human rights and eradicating corruption. It also called for the prosecution of individuals over financial problems at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL).
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), inflation has risen and growth has declined since Weah came to power in January 2018.
He has emphasized that his government inherited a broken economy.
Liberia is still traumatized by consecutive civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which left 250,000 people dead.
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