- Title: Fires on the streets of Lebanon as new PM appointed
- Date: 19th December 2019
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LEBANON (DECEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING IN FRONT OF FIRE BLOCKING ROAD GARBAGE BINS ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD PEOPLE STANDING IN FRONT OF FIRE BLOCKING ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, NEHME MAHFOUD, SAYING: "This government will not only have to face the Lebanese protesting since 17 October (the wave of protests that started). It's as if no one came down to the streets, as if Lebanese are in a state of servitude. This government will also face the Arab world and the International community. It seems they (the government) are living in one time and the people are living in a different time." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN THE STREETS CHANTING BEIRUT, LEBANON (DECEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF PRO-HARIRI SUPPORTERS ON MOTORCYCLES PROTESTING NEXT TO NEWLY DESIGNATED PRIME MINISTER HASSAN DIAB'S HOUSE VARIOUS OF GARBAGE BINS AND FIRE BLOCKING ROAD IN PRO-HARIRI AREA OF CAPITAL PEOPLE, GARBAGE BINS AND OBSTACLES BLOCKING ROAD / ARMY PASSING BY IN PRO-HARIRI AREAS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, MARWA EL BACHA, SAYING: "We are here today because we are not satisfied with the newly imposed prime minister, that was imposed without our consent nor the consent of many in Lebanon, we went to the streets to make our voice heard." PROTESTER WAVING LEBANESE FLAG IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT HEADQUARTERS PROTESTER BANGING ON PAN VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, AHMAD YASSINE, SAYING: "How can you expect from a prime minister, that was appointed by the speaker of parliament Berri and the caretaker foreign minister Bassil, to create an independent government that will fight corruption and has to punish those who appointed him and he has to put them to jail? This is a very beautiful thing to hear (sarcastic tone), someone (speaker of parliament and Bassil) got someone (newly designated prime minister Hassan Diab) to create a law that brings them (speaker of parliament and Bassil) to jail! This is close to impossible." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT SIDON, LEBANON (DECEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PROTESTER, JAMAL ISSA, SAYING: "We refuse this name and all the names that were nominated, because they don't represent the movement of protesters and don't call for our demands, don't talk in their name, we are still talking about the authorities (ruling class), the authorities are nominating and doing whatever they want." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING THROUGH SIDON STREETS
- Embargoed: 2nd January 2020 21:25
- Keywords: Aoun Hariri Hassan Diab blocked roads dissatisfaction fire march newly designated prime minister protesters
- Location: BEIRUT, SIDON AND TRIPOLI, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, SIDON AND TRIPOLI, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001BAN8OCN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Protesters took to the streets of Lebanon on Thursday (December 19) to demonstrate against the Hezbollah-backed newly named prime minister Hassan Diab, who they say is part of the same corrupt political system against which they have been rallying for two months.
Protesters lit tyres on fire and overturned garbage bins in Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli, while others demonstrated outside the Parliament building in the centre of the capital.
Diab said he would quickly form a government to pull the country out of economic crisis after he was designated with support from Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies.
The new designated prime minister, a little-known academic and former education minister who surfaced as a candidate overnight, said he would address the grievances of protesters and urgently enact a reform plan.
The designation set the stage for a cabinet that excludes allies of the United States and Sunni Gulf Arab countries, while underlining the influence of Iran's friends in Lebanon. The move would complicate efforts to secure Western financial aid, analysts say.
Lebanon, facing its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, has been seeking a new government since Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned on Oct. 29, prompted by the protests against the ruling elite.
(Production: Imad Creidi, Ayat Basma) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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