- Title: Lebanese protesters gather early to keep pressure on government
- Date: 20th October 2019
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARTYR'S SQUARE STATUE WITH LEBANESE FLAG AND PROTESTERS NEXT TO IT WITH TENTS MORE OF PROTESTERS SITTING NEXT TO STATUE WITH TENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, MOHAMED AWAD, 27 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "An excellent move from the ministers of the Lebanese Forces that they left the ruling government, and we support them all leaving." VARIOUS OF GRAFFITI ON WALL WITH DOWNTOWN MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND READING (Arabic) :'REVOLUTION , DON'T BE AFRAID TO DREAM' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MALE PROTESTER WHO DID NOT GIVE HIS NAME, SAYING: "I am currently proud to be Lebanese, proud of this people, of this beautiful crowd, and thank you. And, for everyone who is sitting at home, look at us, we came and had breakfast here, and smoked shisha, instead of doing that at home, you can do it here. And, we are not leaving here until the government leaves, and the whole parliament from the president and down." VARIOUS OF BARBED WIRE IN FRONT OF GRAND SERAIL ENTRANCE MORE OF BARBED WIRES SET UP IN RIAD EL SOLH SQUARE
- Embargoed: 3rd November 2019 08:54
- Keywords: Lebanon protests politics Lebanese Forces resignation economy morning
- Location: BEIRUT AND MAARAB, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT AND MAARAB, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA003B1WHZ5Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Lebanese demonstrators prepared for a fourth day of anti-government protests on Sunday (October 20), directing rage at a political elite they blame for entrenched cronyism and economic difficulties.
In an attempt to appease demonstrators, Lebanon's finance minister announced following a meeting with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri that they had agreed on a final budget that did not include any additional taxes or fees.
Further pressure was put on Hariri late on Saturday (October 19) when Maronite Christian leader Samir Geagea announced that his Lebanese Forces party would withdraw its four ministers from the government and called for the formation of a new one.
Government sources said the cabinet might hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss a way out of the crisis.
The budget could help it unlock billions of dollars pledged by international donors who have made their support conditional on long-delayed reforms to curb waste and corruption.
(Production: Imad Creidi, Ahmad El Kerdi, Yara Abi Nader) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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