El Khatib withdraws premiership candidacy, Dar el Fatwa backs Hariri
- A day ahead of planned parliamentary consultations, Samir el Khatib withdrew his candidacy for Prime Minister, backing Saad Hariri for the position instead.
- El Khatib had first Visited Mufti Abdul Latif Deryan before heading to Hariri’s residence, from where he announced that there is a consensus within the Sunni sect to have Hariri, return as Prime Minister. El Khatib denounced a “smear campaign” against him since his name appeared for the candidacy two weeks before.
Protesters reject El Khatib, demonstrations continue
- On the revolution’s 53rd day, protesters gathered in masses in Tripoli’s Mina district and at the entrance of Parliament building in Beirut, to protest the premiership candidacy of Samir e1 Khatib, whom they deem affiliated With the establishment. Security forces in Beirut mobilized to prevent demonstrators from getting close to Parliament.
- In Zouk, demonstrators protested in front of the electric power plant against hazardous impact on the environment, while in Nabatiye, crowds marched against banks. In Saida a group of people forcefully opened the gate of the Kinayat area, a public space that’s been locked off from the population.
Protesters violently beaten and arrested in Nejmeh Square
- Protesters entered Saint-Georges cathedral in Nejmeh Square, where a mass in the memory of assassinated journalist Gebran Tweini was held. They then headed outside to have a sit-in in front of parliament. Security forces asked them to leave, and when they refused, they got beaten violently with sticks.
- As they left the square, several protesters got ambushed by men in civilian clothes who handcuffed them, beat them, and locked them up, confiscating their phones. They were released shortly afterwards.
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