U.S. says supports Lebanese people’s call for action for economic reform

U.S. says supports Lebanese people's call for action for economic reform
U.S. says supports Lebanese people's call for action for economic reform

Lebanese people are"rightfully angered" with their government over its refusal to tacklecorruption and Washington supports their right to demonstrate peacefully, asenior U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday.

Hundreds of thousands ofpeople in Lebanon have flooded the streets for nearly a week in anunprecedented wave of demonstrations, furious at a political class they accuseof pushing the economy to the point of collapse.

Describing the protests"long overdue", the official called on the Lebanese government tocarry out the economic reforms demanded by the people, adding Beirut should notget a "bailout" from the crisis.

"The people in Lebanonare frustrated. The crowds that are coming out are enormous…and people wantto see action. The United States government supports their call for action forreform for fighting corruption," the official told reporters. "Thisis not a new problem. The economic crisis that Lebanon is currently facing wasa slow train coming."

Flag-waving protesters keptroads blocked with vehicles and makeshift barricades for a seventh day onWednesday. Banks have been closed since Friday and will remain shut onThursday, the banking association said. Schools are also closed.

Prime Minister Saadal-Hariri's government announced an emergency reform package on Monday to tryto assuage public anger and steer the state away from a looming financialcrisis.

Washington was in routine contact withtheir Lebanese counterparts but was not up to the United States to tell Beirutwhat to do, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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