Protests paralyzed life throughout Lebanon for the ninth consecutive day yesterday, and the main sit-in scene in Beirut witnessed a clash between demonstrators and pro-Hezbollah, followed by clashes between Lebanese security and Hezbollah, while the Secretary-General of Hezbollah refused, Hassan Nasrallah, all the demands of the demonstrators, and warned of a vacuum leading to chaos and collapse, saying in a speech yesterday that «Lebanon is going through a sensitive and dangerous stage», and that the paper reforms adopted by the government «a first step, but does not meet the aspirations».
In detail, demonstrators waving Lebanese flags blocked roads, and some pitched tents on highways, continuing their protests for the ninth day in a row.
Hundreds of Lebanese protesters erected tents, blocked traffic on main roads, remained in public squares to impose a civil disobedience campaign, and continued to press the government to step down. Banks, universities and schools remained closed on Friday, usually a working day in Lebanon.
Demonstrators briefly blocked the highway linking the southern city of Sidon to Beirut, burning tires and blocking traffic. The army later removed the tires and reopened the road.
Protesters also set up tents on the main highway linking east and west Beirut, allowing only ambulances and military vehicles to pass, and others protesting at the eastern entrance to Beirut.
In a related context, the Lebanese army closed roads leading to the Presidential Palace in Baabda, after calls for demonstrations there.
In a statement yesterday, the Lebanese army leadership warned against abusive and illegal practices by protesters, and considered that freedom of expression and demonstration is constitutionally protected, but called for "respect for freedom of movement."
Sources reported yesterday that a number of Hezbollah supporters broke the protesters, shouting slogans loyal to Nasrallah, and a clash between them and protesters in the Riad al-Solh Square in Beirut. A riot force intervened to disperse both sides, and riot police closed the entrances to Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut.
As anti-government demonstrators began to launch the slogan “The people want to overthrow the regime,” and “Allen means all”, demanding the departure of the political class without exception, the atmosphere between the two sides became tense and developed into a stampede.
Riot police intervened firmly. Lebanese security forces clashed with Hezbollah loyalists in central Beirut, arresting a number of tensions, and provoking some elements of the security forces and demonstrators. There were reports of casualties in these clashes.
In a related context, Hezbollah loyalists attacked the media in the sit-in square in downtown Beirut.
For his part, warned Hassan Nasrallah, demanding the departure of the entire political class in demonstrations throughout Lebanon from the vacuum that will lead to "chaos and collapse."
Nasrallah said in a speech broadcast on Al-Manar television: «We do not accept going to the vacuum, we do not accept the fall of the Covenant, and do not support the resignation of the government, and do not accept the early parliamentary elections», rejecting all the demands of demonstrators condemning all the political class, and demanding the resignation of the government and change the parliament .
Nasrallah added: «Open to any solution, any discussion, but not on the basis of going to any form of vacuum, because the vacuum will be fatal».
"Any solution must be based on the rule of not falling into the vacuum in state institutions, because this is very dangerous, if the vacuum happens, as some call, will lead, under the difficult and crisis economic situation .. Under the political tensions in the country and the region, to chaos To collapse. ”
Nasrallah said that "Lebanon is going through a sensitive and dangerous stage," stressing that the paper of reforms adopted by the government "a first step, but does not meet the aspirations. He stressed that he "respects" the popular movement, claiming that he did not participate in the movement to remove the political character and party. Nasrallah said that he did not threaten the demonstrators, retreating from what he said earlier, saying that «what is happening should be employed for the benefit of the country».
Nasrallah felt that the movement achieved positive in its early days, where he imposed on the government to achieve a budget free of deficits and taxes. Nasrallah criticized the "absurdity" of the government's reform paper, which he described as "unprecedented". Nasrallah praised the speech of President Michel Aoun, and called on the activists of the movement for dialogue. Nasrallah also said that "some are preparing for a civil war" in Lebanon.
In a related context, Nasrallah denied any accusation of pushing the Lebanese army to confront the demonstrators, saying that «the army and security forces may not face the demonstrators».
Nasrallah also accused embassies, personalities and political forces of funding and mobilizing the demonstrations, saying that the movement is no longer a popular and spontaneous movement. Nasrallah demanded the popular movement to announce the names of its leaders.
In the meantime, the Maronite Patriarchate supported the demand of the demonstrators to form a mini-government from outside the parties and blocs, and reminded that «the people is the source of powers according to the Constitution». "Let state officials know they are responsible for millions of dollars in losses," she said.
Classification of Lebanon on the credit watch list with negative repercussions
In a report released Thursday, Standard & Poor's put Lebanon's rating on the credit watch list with negative repercussions due to increased financial and monetary risks.
"This reflects our view that falling foreign exchange inflows could exacerbate financial and monetary pressures and limit the government's ability to respond to pressing social demands," she said.
While the Central Bank of Lebanon's reserves of usable foreign currency are sufficient to service government debt in the near term, the bank said that the risk to the government's creditworthiness has risen.
The Association of Banks in Lebanon said banks were scheduled to remain closed until the situation stabilized. Banks have been closed for about a week. Reuters