BEIRUT: Protesters briefly blocked the old Beirut airport highway and several other roads with burning tires Tuesday, demanding the reduction in prison term from 12 to nine months.

In addition to the old airport road, families of inmates also blocked roads early Tuesday in Msharafiyyeh, Tayyouneh, Burj al-Barajneh and Mar Mikhail.

Security forces dispatched to the troubled areas have reopened all roads to traffic.

The protests are part of a nationwide action that is expected to cover other areas such as Baalbek and Zahle, in east Lebanon, the mountainous town of Aley and Tripoli and Diniyyeh up north.

Protesters, mainly families of inmates, are demanding general amnesty and the reduction in prison terms.

Security sources had told The Daily Star that protests planned for this week have the potential to turn into nationwide riots.

They said the committee of prisoners’ families is preparing to hold demonstrations Tuesday starting 6 a.m.