BEIRUT, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Protesters approached the U.S. embassy premises in Awkar East of Beirut for the second time Monday but riot police and security forces forced them away from it, local New TV reported.

    According to the report, around 500 university students held the demonstration in protest against Israeli's ground offensive on Gaza. They carried sticks and tried to break through the bared wire fences surrounding the U.S. embassy.

    Earlier on Sunday, over a hundred members of the Lebanese Communist Party had also confronted with security police, during which nine leftist demonstrators and one policeman were slightly injured. Police used tear gas and water hoses to retreat them away from the embassy fences.

    Demonstrations in various Lebanese regions have been staged since the Israeli ongoing attack on Gaza started 10 days ago.