Demonstrations in Lebanon on Thursday entered its eighth day and continued despite the call of President Michel Aoun, who spoke for the first time of the start of this movement, calling on protesters for dialogue.
In his first comments since the start of the demonstrations, which entered its second week, Aoun expressed his readiness to hold a "constructive dialogue" with representatives of the demonstrators, "carrying your concerns, listening specifically to your demands, and you also hear from us our fears of economic collapse."
Aoun addressed the demonstrators, saying: "Change is not done from the squares, but through institutions. The reform paper is a first step to save Lebanon from collapse. I, in turn, commit to passing anti-corruption laws and ask your help to approve them."
Regarding the reality of Lebanon and the regime, the Lebanese president said: "Sectarianism has broken us and corruption has dragged us to the bone. Lebanon has suffered a lot from sectarianism and I talked daily about fighting corruption, so the current government reality must be reconsidered." To a cabinet reshuffle.
Aoun's invitation, according to demonstrators in downtown Beirut, was not welcomed.
Beirut's Riad El Solh Square witnessed tensions on Thursday that developed into a stampede, which began with a group of youths shouting pro-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, sparking protests by protesters demanding the departure of the entire political class.
A riot force intervened to separate the demonstrators. The state-run National Media Agency reported one casualty.
Since the early morning, the demonstrators began cutting roads inside Beirut and others leading to it and in several areas.
Dozens of demonstrators returned to the demonstration on Thursday in the southern city of Nabatiyeh after clashes between protesters and the municipal police, which worked to disperse the demonstrators by force from the square of the city center, where some of them paved the road and held dancing and dabke rings, stressing the continuation of their sit-in despite the pressures they are facing. Local media reported that five members of the city's municipal councils had submitted their resignations in protest.
"Some people think we are having fun, but in fact we are demanding our most basic rights, such as water, food, electricity, medical care, guaranteeing old age and medicines," a 30-year-old protester who declined to be identified told Reuters. Education.