MP Ali Bazzi of the Development and Liberation bloc on Tuesday described the recent U.S. sanctions on two Hizbullah MPs as a “threat to democracy.”

Bazzi voiced his remarks in Washington where he is leading a parliamentary delegation at an invitation from the U.S. Congress. He is representing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

An armed clash broke out on Tuesday in the Khalde area, leaving one person wounded.

The National News Agency said guards of Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan exchanged fire with members of Khalde’s Arab tribes, which resulted in the injury of Sheikh Omar Ghosn.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri lashed out Tuesday at the Lebanese Forces during parliament’s debate of the 2019 draft state budget, following remarks by LF deputy chief MP George Adwan.

“Attack the government as much as you want and launch fierce attacks on me personally, but when you talk about financial and monetary stability, you must talk responsibly. The situation is difficult but it is not disastrous,” Hariri said.

Security forces on Tuesday prevented Palestinian protesters from Marching from the capital’s Cola area towards parliament building in central Beirut.

The protest was organized by the ‘Coalition of Palestinian Refugees Right to Work’ and other institutions and associations operating in Lebanon in protest at “arbitrary measures against Palestinian workers and merchants in Lebanon and their right to live in dignity.”

An altercation broke out Tuesday between the members of Tripoli Municipality during a stormy session that saw confidence withheld from the municipal chief and his deputy.

Thirteen members voted in favor of withholding confidence from the mayor, Ahmed Qamareddine, as five granted him their confidence and another five cast blank votes.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling and US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard met the Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun at the Head Quarters of the Second Land Border Regiment to discuss progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border, during the High Level Steering Committee (HLSC), the UK embassy said in a press release on Tuesday.

The Parliament convened on Tuesday in its first legislative session to discuss and ratify the 2019 state budget amid heightened security measures as retired servicemen rallied in Downtown Beirut protesting budget articles that would affect their benefit pay.

In the past few days Hizbullah reportedly has deployed troops in new areas in Western Qalamoun in the countryside of Damascus, after pulling these forces back from different Syrian areas where its troops were positioned, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat said on Tuesday.

Amid protests expected by the retired servicemen in Nejmeh Square, the perimeter of the House of representatives was turned on Tuesday into a “buffer zone” in preparation for the launch of legislative meetings devoted to discussing and ratifying the 2019 state budget.

Police set up temporary barricades and brought in barbed wire to prevent the protesters from approaching the parliament building.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat announced Monday that he is open to solutions regarding the crisis created by the deadly Qabrshmoun incident.

Asked whether the solution entails his acceptance of referring the case to the Judicial Council, Jumblat said no one should “jump to conclusions” before the end of the probe, stressing that the investigation must involve the two parties.