Schools disrupted as thousands of Lebanese teachers protest

Beirut: At least 100,000 teachers in public and private schools are staging a one-day protest to demand better pay, forcing about 1 million students to stay home.

Most schools closed nationwide. Teachers at the state-run Lebanese University also joined Tuesday's protest.

Several hundred teachers protested near parliament in downtown Beirut to press their demands.

Education Minister Bahiya Hariri said she will meet with union representatives after the protest.

The teachers' unions say a recent government-decreed pay raise of 200,000 Lebanese pounds ($133) a month for all employees was not enough.