Lebanon: Army reopens roads, protesters flock to streets again

Lebanese people flocked to the streets on Tuesday evening as part of their 20-day movement, hours after limited clashes in some areas with security forces who opened several roads.

From Beirut to Tripoli in the north and Sidon in the south, hundreds of demonstrators returned in the evening to the usual demonstrations, carrying Lebanese flags and chanting slogans known as "revolution .. revolution."

The usual demonstration square in Tripoli was filled at night after army units prevented demonstrators from shutting down a number of public institutions and banks, as they had done the day before.

Young men and women drumed at night rallies to express their solidarity with the people of the southern city of Sidon, from which the army cleared the sit-in in the morning, before the demonstrators returned and filled the square to demonstrate at night.

On Tuesday morning, dozens demonstrated in Beirut against the high cost of telecommunications imposed by the country's two cellular operators. In front of MTC, they held placards reading "Alo Alo Alo Beirut, who stole you, my eyes?"

During the day, the Lebanese army and security forces reopened roads blocked by several protesters as part of a strategy they have been following since the start of their movement to increase pressure on the authorities.

On Monday, protesters blocked off major roads, banks and official institutions as part of their October 17 move against the entire political class and the day after mass demonstrations across Lebanon.

This popular movement is unprecedented in Lebanon as it is the uncle of all regions of the country without excluding one region, sect or leader. Demonstrators are demanding the formation of a government of specialists from outside the current political class, and then hold early parliamentary elections and pass laws to recover looted funds and fight corruption.

The political landscape remains uncertain. Since the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri on 29 October in the face of street anger, the President of the Republic has not begun binding parliamentary consultations to appoint a new president to form a government.

Moody's on Tuesday downgraded Lebanon's credit rating to CIA-2.

Lebanon is witnessing an economic deterioration that was reflected in the almost zero growth rate last year, and the accumulation of debt to $ 86 billion, equivalent to 150% of GDP, one of the highest rates in the world.

"Legislative Revolution"
For his part, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri said that the parliament will hold a meeting on Tuesday.

Berri said in a statement to his office that the agenda of the session will include bills on combating corruption, the establishment of a special court for financial crimes, the law on guaranteeing old age and a law on amnesty. He stressed that this was at the request of the popular movement.

Berri added that the "legislative revolution" begins after the session of the election of the Bureau of the Council and members of its committees, next Tuesday, a session that includes a set of projects and proposals for reform laws.