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Agence France-Presse

Tens of thousands of Lebanese people took to the streets Saturday for a third day of protests against tax increases and alleged official corruption despite several arrests by security forces.
They streamed into the streets around the country’s parliament in Beirut, as well as elsewhere across the country, AFP journalists said, despite calls for calm from politicians and dozens of arrests on Friday.
The number of protesters grew steadily throughout the day, with major demonstrations in second city Tripoli, in the north, and other locations.
Many waved billowing Lebanese flags and insisted the protests should remain peaceful and nonsectarian.
The demonstrators are demanding a sweeping overhaul of Lebanon’s political system, citing grievances ranging from austerity measures to poor infrastructure.

They have crippled main roads and threatened to topple the country’s fragile coalition government.
Most Lebanese politicians have uncharacteristically admitted the demonstrations are spontaneous, rather than blaming outside influence.
In Tripoli demonstrator Hoda Sayyur was unimpressed by the contrition some leaders displayed on television and echoed a widely-held hope that the entire political class be replaced.
“They took all our fundamental rights … We are dying at hospital gates,” the woman in her fifties said.
“I will stay in the street … Since I was born, we’ve been spectators to their quarrels and corruption,” she said.
The army on Saturday called on protesters to “express themselves peacefully without harming public and private property”.
Saturday evening thousands were again packed into the Riyadh al-Solh Square in central Beirut, despite security forces using tear gas and water cannons to disperse similar crowds a day before.

The Internal Security Forces said 70 arrests were made Friday on accusations of theft and arson.
But all of those held at the main police barracks were released Saturday, the National News Agency (NNA) said.
It said that the father of one man detained tried to set himself on fire in front of a police station.
The demonstrations first erupted on Thursday, sparked by a proposed 20 cent tax on calls via messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
Such calls are the main method of communication for many Lebanese and, despite the government’s swift abandonment of the tax, the demonstrations quickly swelled into the largest in years.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri has given his deeply divided coalition until Monday evening to give their backing to a reform package aimed at shoring up the government’s finances and securing the disbursement of desperately needed economic assistance from donors.
He held a series of meetings Saturday regarding the situation, NNA said.
Hariri’s political rival, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, gave his first response on Saturday, telling protesters their “message was heard loudly” and calling for political action.
Protests sweep Lebanon as fury at ‘totally corrupt’ ruling elite grows
In a thinly veiled criticism of Hariri, Nasrallah condemned those who had renounced their “responsibilities and were blaming others.”
But he warned against demanding resignation of the government, saying it could take a long time to form a new one and solve the crisis.
The current unity government has the backing of most Lebanese political parties, including Hezbollah.
Karim el-Mufti, a Lebanese political scientist, said Hezbollah, which is fighting in neighbouring Syria alongside the government of Bashar al-Assad, wanted to avoid potential chaos at home.
In the southern port city of Tyre, supporters of Shia politician and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri attacked protesters Saturday, a witness said, a day after demonstrators had accused him of corruption.
His Amal political party condemned the attack and called for an investigation.

More than a quarter of the Lebanese population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
Many of the country’s senior politicians came to prominence during the country’s 15-year civil war, which ended in 1990.
A protester in the southern city of Nabatiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, said protesters are demanding their “rights”. protesting.
“They are trying to portray us as a mob, but we are demanding our rights,” he told a local television channel. “We are used to repression.”
Lebanon has one of the highest public debt burdens in the world and the government is trying to reach agreement on a package of belt-tightening measures to cap the deficit in next year’s budget.
The promised austerity moves are essential if Lebanon is to unlock US$11 billion in economic assistance pledged by international donors last year.
Growth has plummeted in recent years, with political deadlock compounded by the impact of eight years of war in neighbouring Syria.
Lebanon’s public debt stands at around US$86 billion – more than 150 per cent of gross domestic product – according to the finance ministry.


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Human rights

Tens of thousands protest against tax increases and corruption in Lebanon for third day

A Lebanese protester lifts a placard during a rally in downtown Beirut on the third day of demonstrations against tax increases and official corruption. Photo: AFP

Anti-government protesters shout slogans against the Lebanese government during a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. The blaze of protests was unleashed a day earlier when the government announced a slate of new proposed taxes, including a $6 monthly fee for using Whatsapp voice calls. The measures set a spark to long-smoldering anger against top leaders from the president and prime minister to the numerous factional figures many blame for decades of corruption and mismanagement. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A Lebanese protester lifts a picture of Prime Minister Saad Hariri in a wig during a rally in downtown Beirut on the third day of demonstrations against tax increases and official corruption, on October 19, 2019. The writing "sashay away" refers to a catchphrase from a drag queen TV show meaning "leave". (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP)

In this photo taken with slow shutter speed, shows anti-government protesters wave Lebanese national flags as shout slogans against the Lebanese government during a protest in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. The blaze of protests was unleashed a day earlier when the government announced a slate of new proposed taxes, including a $6 monthly fee for using Whatsapp voice calls. The measures set a spark to long-smoldering anger against top leaders from the president and prime minister to the numerous factional figures many blame for decades of corruption and mismanagement. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Protests sweep Lebanon as fury at ‘totally corrupt’ ruling elite grows

A Lebanese demonstrator stands in front of a tyre fire during a protest in southern Lebanon on Friday. Photo: AFP

Anti-government protesters clash with riot policemen during a protest against government's plans to impose new taxes, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Nationwide protests paralyzed Lebanon on Friday as thousands of demonstrators blocked major roads in a second day of rallies against the government's handling of a severe economic crisis and the country's political class they perceive as being corrupt. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Demonstrators carry national flags and gesture during a protest targeting the government over an economic crisis in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

Anti-government protesters shout slogans against the Lebanese government during a protest against government's plans to impose new taxes, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. Nationwide protests paralyzed Lebanon on Friday as thousands of demonstrators blocked major roads in a second day of rallies against the government's handling of a severe economic crisis and the country's political class they perceive as being corrupt. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

(191018) -- BEIRUT, Oct. 18, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Protesters burn tires to block the road during a demonstration in Beirut, Lebanon on Oct. 18, 2019. Thousands of protesters continued to demonstrate on Friday and block roads all over Lebanon to protest against the government's policies, Al Jadeed local TV channel reported. Citizens chanted slogans against the government while accusing politicians of being corrupted and depriving people from their basic rights. Protests have been ongoing since Thursday evening, leading to 23 injuries among citizens and 60 among the Lebanese army. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

epa07930885 Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri speaks during a press conference in the Government palace at downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 18 October 2019. Hariri gives political parties 72 hours to agree on a solution to the country’s crisis, on the second straight day of nationwide protests against the state. EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

A Lebanese demonstrator waves the national flags in front of a tire fire during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the capital Beirut. - Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP)

About 1,000 gather in Central for rally calling for humanitarian aid on rare peaceful start to weekend, as city braces for illegal march on Sunday

Protesters flash red and white lights to signal an SOS call. Photo: Winson Wong

Pro-democracy protesters attend a prayer rally for calling for international humanity aid at Edinburgh Place in Central. 19OCT19 SCMP/ Martin Chan

Day 1 of the exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui highlighting police brutality and human rights violation in light of the anti-government riots. 19OCT19 SCMP / Felix Wong

Pro-democracy protesters attend a prayer rally for calling for international humanity aid at Edinburgh Place in Central. 19OCT19 SCMP/ Winson Wong

British MPs vote to delay Brexit approval, in setback for Boris Johnson

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the House of Commons in London on October 19. Photo: AFP

Britain's opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the House of Commons as parliament discusses Brexit, sitting on a Saturday for the first time since the 1982 Falklands War, in London, Britain, October 19, 2019, in this screen grab taken from video. Parliament TV via REUTERS

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a statement in the House of Commons in London on October 19, 2019. - British MPs gather Saturday for a historic vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, a decision that could see the UK leave the EU this month or plunge the country into fresh uncertainty. (Photo by - / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

A still image grabbed from footage recorded and broadcast by the UK Broadcast Pool shows thousands of people taking part in a People's Vote march calling for a final say in the form of a second Brexit referendum in central London on October 19, 2019. - Tens of thousands of pro-EU protesters from across Britain wielding banners, placards and flags converged on parliament on Saturday, as MPs debated the government's Brexit deal. (Photo by - / UK BROADCASTERS POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / UK BROADCAST POOL " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - NO SALES - RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Anti-Brexit remain in the European Union supporters gather after taking part in a "People's Vote" protest march calling for another referendum on Britain's EU membership, in Parliament Square in London, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Britain's Parliament is set to vote in a rare Saturday sitting on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's new deal with the European Union, a decisive moment in the prolonged bid to end the Brexit stalemate. Various scenarios may be put in motion by the vote. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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Third day of action threatens to topple Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s fragile coalition government



Third day of action threatens to topple Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s fragile coalition government.


European Union

Tens of thousands protest against tax increases and corruption in Lebanon for third day

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Third day of action threatens to topple Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s fragile coalition government

Third day of action threatens to topple Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s fragile coalition government