Sunday's violence comes on the eve of a meeting between the president and parliamentary blocs in which resigned Prime Minister Saad Hariri is widely expected to be renamed to the post.

Hariri resigned on October 29 amid nationwide protests that have accused the entire political elite of corruption and mismanagement amid Lebanon's worst economic downward in decades.

The protesters say they won't accept Hariri as prime minister, demanding an independent head of government not affiliated with existing parties.

After weeks of bickering, the political parties failed to put forward independent names, most of them insisting on keeping their political share in the government.

The protests on Sunday were largely peaceful, but some demonstrators lobbed water bottles and firecrackers at security forces guarding parliament.

After a couple of hours, security forces chased the the protesters away, using batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Hundreds remained as division surfaced among the protesters. Some promoted confrontation with security forces to express anger at the crackdown and the government's "business as usual" approach.

"We have reclaim our country from this occupation," one angry protester told LBC TV, referring to what he called a corrupt government in place for decades.

Another told Al-Jadeed that on Sunday the protesters started the friction "as a reaction to unjust crackdown" the day before.

Saturday night into Sunday saw one of the most violent crackdowns on protesters since nationwide anti-government demonstrations began two months ago.

The overnight confrontations in Beirut left more than 130 people injured, according to the Red Cross and the Lebanese Civil Defence.

The Red Cross said none of the injured were in serious condition and most of them were treated on the spot.

Australian Associated Press