A general view of Beirut central district
BEIRUT, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Demonstrators and police clashed in Lebanon on Thursday as thousands of people rallied against the government’s handling of an economic crisis, in one of the biggest protests the country has seen in years.
The government backed down from plans, announced hours earlier, to tax voice calls made through the Facebook-owned WhatsApp messaging software as people vented their anger at the political elite in the second nationwide protests in less than a month.
Protesters blocked roads across Lebanon with burning tyres and security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in central Beirut early on Friday, Lebanese media said.
Dozens of people were wounded, the Red Cross said. Lebanon’s internal security forces said 60 police were wounded.
“The people want to topple the regime,” some chanted.
The protests have been fuelled by stagnant economic conditions exacerbated by a financial crisis in one of the world’s most heavily indebted states.
The government, which has declared a state of “economic emergency”, is seeking ways to narrow its gaping deficit.
Lebanon faces debt burdens, stagnant growth, crumbling infrastructure and strains in its financial system linked to reduced capital inflows. The Lebanese pound, pegged against the dollar for two decades, has been under pressure.
Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s government of national unity is seeking to approve a 2020 budget, a step that may help it unlock billions pledged by international donors.
But donors want to see Beirut implement long-delayed reforms to curb waste and corruption.
Crowds were still gathered in central Beirut’s Riad al-Solh square into the early hours of Friday, some of them waving Lebanese flags.
Nearby, dozens of young men on motorcycles circled a main crossroad and set tyres on fire, some of them ripping out billboards and tossing wooden panels into the flames.
Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan told Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV most of the protests remained peaceful and security was under control.
The education ministry announced schools would close on Friday after the protests.
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said the draft budget he had submitted to the Cabinet was free of new taxes and he remained committed to passing a budget without new taxes. — NNN-AGENCIES
