Political manipulation seen behind Lebanon violent protests - U.N. official

Violence by some protesters in the Lebanese capital Beirut appears to be politically driven to undermine security and stability, a senior United Nations official said on Thursday.

"This looks more like a political manipulation to provoke the security forces, to undermine civil peace, to fan up sectarian strife," Jan Kubis, U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, wrote on Twitter, mentioning attacks on security forces and vandalism of state institutions and private property.