AMN
Tens of thousands of Lebanese took to the streets for a fourth day today to protest political stasis and corruption, as the government was rocked by the resignation of a coalition partner.
Demonstrations began spontaneously on Thursday in response to a proposed tax on calls via WhatsApp and other messaging services.
While the government quickly dropped the plans, the protests morphed into demands for a sweeping overhaul of Lebanon’s political system, with grievances ranging from austerity measures to poor infrastructure.
Street rallies swelled again today, with thousands streaming into central Beirut and other locations throughout the country, many chanting ‘revolution’.
Earlier Lebanese army moved to end a wave of protests against tax increases and alleged official corruption today, as the fragile governing coalition fractured over promised economic reforms.
Troops reopened some major highways that had been blocked by protesters after firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse the huge crowd that had gathered into the early hours in Riyadh al-Solh Square in the heart of the capital Beirut. The Internal Security Forces said 70 protesters were arrested.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri has given his deeply divided coalition partners until Monday evening to give their backing to a reform package aimed at shoring up the government’s finances and securing the disbursement of desperately needed economic assistance from donors. Hariri’s political rival, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was expected to give his group’s response in a speech to be aired later today.
Groups of young people gathered on the streets of the capital during the morning, preparing for a new day of protests despite the burgeoning crackdown. Parts of central Beirut looked like a war zone, littered with broken glass, overturned litter bins and the remains of burning tyres. Banks and many restaurants and shops remained closed.
The demonstrations first erupted on Thursday, sparked by a proposed 20 cent tax on calls via messaging apps such as WhatsApp.