- Title: Lebanese protesters gather early to keep pressure on government
- Date: 20th October 2019
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS CLEANING STREETS, INCLUDING SOME WEARING YELLOW HIGH VISIBILITY VESTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VOLUNTEER, IMAD CHMAYTELLI, 32 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "We are gathered here today, together, to remove the obstacles on the roads of Beirut - firstly, in order for Beirut to stay a city that loves peace and cleanliness and secondly, to facilitate the roads for protesters who are demanding their rights and ours. And, certainly, when we finish we will take off our vests and join the protesters." MORE OF PROTESTERS / VOLUNTEERS CLEANING MARTYR'S SQUARE AND CARRYING BAGS OF GARBAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER AND PHARMACIST, JOE SALLOUM, SAYING: "We are here today as pharmacists and as doctors, and I ask them all to be here. We are next to the people if anything happens to them, we will be next to them, we will stay all day to ensure the safety of the citizens." MORE OF PROTESTERS / VOLUNTEERS CLEANING STREETS AHEAD OF FURTHER EXPECTED PROTESTS TENTS SET UP IN MARTYR'S SQUARE DOWNTOWN BEIRUT
- 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: LVA001B1WHZ5Z
- 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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