BEIRUT- The Beirut Stock Exchange suspended trading until further notice on Monday because clearance and settlement processes could not be carried out on time during a strike by central bank employees, the stock exchange said on its website.

The stock exchange said it had received a letter from Midclear stating it could not carry out the clearance and settlement process on time.

The trading suspension was "to protect the interest of all investors," the stock exchange said.

(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Toby Chopra) ((thomas.perry@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: thomas.perry.reuters.com@reuters.net))