Lebanon protesters keep pressure on government as reform deadline nears

Lebanon protesters keep pressure on government as reform deadline nears
Lebanon protesters keep pressure on government as reform deadline nears

Protesters in Lebanon returned to the streets earlyon Sunday, keeping pressure on Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri as a self-imposeddeadline to deliver a package of badly needed reforms for the country'scrumbling economy drew near.

Anti-government protests that have swept the countrysince Thursday have pulled together all segments of Lebanese society in anunusually unified call for the downfall of a political elite that protestersblame for plunging the economy into crisis.

Young protesters carrying rubbish bags arrived earlyin central Beirut on Sunday to clean debris left from festive demonstrationsthe day before, while groups of marchers with drums and loudspeakers returnedto keep momentum.

"I didn't expect people from the country'snorth, south and Beirut to join hands and like each other. The protests havebrought together everyone and this has never happened before," said SaharYounis, a 32-year-old worker with a non-governmental organisation.

Hariri gave his feuding coalition partners a 72-hourdeadline on Friday to agree to reforms that could ward off economic crisis,hinting he may otherwise resign. He accused his rivals of obstructing budgetmeasures that could unlock $11 billion in Western donor pledges and help averteconomic collapse.

If Hariri, a Sunni Muslim who is traditionally backedby the West and Sunni Gulf Arab allies, resigns it would be harder for thevarious parties that make up the ruling coalition to form a new cabinet.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
Ajel
english.ajel.sa