Opposition cut contact with military

The opposition announced they have cut all contact with the military council, who negotiations with had stalled for more than a week before this morning's attack.

"We announce the end of all political contact and negotiations with the putschist Council," the Forces for Freedom and Change, the umbrella group for protesters and opposition, said in a statement. 

The military has denied that it dispersed the sit-in, claiming it was trying to clear a nearby area where there were already several clashes last week. 

"The protest camp has not been dispersed," military council spokesman Shamseddine Kabbashi said. "The security forces were trying to disperse unruly (elements) in the Colombia area, near the protest site, and some of these elements fled to the protest site and caused this chaos."