Police fire tear gas as protests turn violent

A group of protesters clashed with security forces in Beirut for the third consecutive night Monday, hours after Lebanon's president postponed talks on naming a new prime minister. President Michel Aoun postponed the binding consultations with leaders of parliamentary blocs after the only candidate - caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri - failed to win the backing of the country's largest Christian groups amid a worsening economic and financial crisis.

The postponement followed a violent weekend in the small nation that saw the toughest crackdown on demonstrations in two months. Lebanese security forces repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters in downtown Beirut.