Beirut, Dec 16 (IANS): Riot police and anti-government protesters clashed for a second consecutive day in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, leaving dozens of people wounded, the media reported on Monday.

Riot police and security forces were again deployed in large numbers on Sunday as thousands of protesters returned to the streets, the BBC reported.

Lebanon's Internal Security Forces said they fired tear gas after demonstrators pelted them with fireworks and stones.

Sunday's violence was a follow-up of Saturday's incidents that began as demonstrators, who had been attacked during a sit-in by masked counter-protesters, tried to move into a square near Parliament.

The police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while protesters threw stones.

Saturday's clashes were some of the worst violence since the largely peaceful protests, against the economic mismanagement by the ruling elite, started, triggering the resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

Talks between President Michel Aoun and parliamentary blocs to name a new prime minister were expected to be held on Monday.