- Title: Demonstrators fill Lebanon's streets in third day of fiery protests
- Date: 19th October 2019
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS CARRYING FLAGS IN BEIRUT CENTRAL DISTRICT/VIEW OF RESIDENCE OF PRIME MINISTER BEHIND LEBANESE FLAGS AND PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER AMAL MOKDAD, MOTHER OF TWO, SAYING: "I have two children and I can't afford their school fees. The environment is polluted. The situation is going towards a full meltdown. They are asking us to give them 72 hours but I would say if they really want to show good intention, they should return all the money they stole from Lebanon. Then, maybe, we can consider or not whether we can allow them to stay in office or not.'' LEBANESE POLICE AT SCENE PROTESTERS APPLAUDING AND CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER LAMYA BERROU, SAYING: ''For the first time we feel like we have the capability of going out to protest. Before, we were afraid but now we decided to come down to the street because the situation is at a point where we feel there is no hope and we cannot continue like this. We saw all these young people in the streets and our heart went out to them. We felt we needed to do something.'' TOP VIEWS OF PROTESTS / PROTESTERS INSIDE A BUILDING AND ON TOP OF IT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER CHARBEL ABOU JAWDEH, ARCHITECT, SAYING: ''I congratulate this government for the effort and the work it has done so far but we have to tell them that simply they failed. If they had succeeded, we would have a country, we would not have 100 billion (Lebanese Liras) of debt. We would have roads, with asphalt. We want one thing, we want them to give the chance to others because they have failed.'' TRIPOLI, LEBANON (OCTOBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTEST IN TRIPOLI BANNER READING (Arabic): ''YOU STOLE FROM US. LEAVE" PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNERS AND PIECES OF PAPER WITH MESSAGES IN ARABIC (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, RADWAN SHAKES, SAYING: ''We have one demand, we want to clean the whole staircase from top to bottom - a complete overhaul from the top of the pyramid, from the president, to the speaker to the cabinet. We want all the corrupt, out, whether they are small or big ones. Out means out. Every last one of them.'' PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS AND CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, JOELLE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING: ''How are we supposed to live in dignity in this country? Tomorrow, when we graduate we won't find jobs. Our only ambition is to emigrate.'' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING (Arabic): ''REVOLUTION, REVOLUTION.'' VARIOUS OF VIEW AMONG PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 2nd November 2019 14:54
- Keywords: Lebanon protests politics economy Nasrallah Hezbollah government
- Location: BEIRUT AND TRIPOLI, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT AND TRIPOLI, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1RI8UF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of demonstrators poured into Lebanon's streets on Saturday (October 19) for a third day of anti-government protests, directing growing rage at a political elite they blame for driving the country to the economic brink.
In central Beirut, protesters of all ages waved flags and chanted for revolution outside upmarket retailers and banks that had their storefronts smashed in by some rogue rioters the night before.
The latest nation-wide unrest erupted out of anger over the rising cost of living and new tax plans, including a fee on WhatsApp calls, which was quickly retracted after protests - the biggest in decades - broke out. The government, comprising nearly all Lebanon's main parties, has pledged no new taxes as it seeks to finalise a 2020 budget.
The budget could help it unlock billions of dollars pledged by international donors who have conditioned their support on long-delayed reforms to curb waste and corruption.
Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave his government partners a 72-hour deadline on Friday (October 18) to agree on reforms that could ward off economic crisis, hinting he may otherwise resign.
(Production: Alaa Kanaan, Walid Saleh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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