RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said on Friday that the Kingdom is following events in Lebanon closely after gunfights in Beirut left six people dead on Thursday.

The Kingdom hopes the situation will stabilize as soon as possible and that Saudi Arabia stands with the people of Lebanon, a foreign ministry statement said.

The Kingdom looks forward to security and peace prevailing in Lebanon by putting an end to the acquisition and usage of weapons outside the framework of the state and strengthening the Lebanese state in a way that benefits the entirety of the Lebanese population, without any exception, because the Lebanese people deserve a stable homeland, a growing economy and a security that ends terrorism, the statement said.

The protests were organized by Hezbollah and its allies against the judge leading the investigation into last year’s massive port blast.

Many were injured in street battles in the capital between Hezbollah and Amal-affiliated supporters and others whose political identity was unknown.