Army attacks protesters in Tripoli
- Over 100 people were injured in Tripoli on Tuesday night after the army used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas to disperse protestors. This followed an attempt by a group of young men to break into the Free Patriotic Movement’s office in Al-Gemayzet Street.
- The army released a statement Wednesday saying that soldiers were targeted by one protester throwing a hand grenade and another hurling a rock. The army arrested four people.
- Meanwhile, protesters organized rallies across the city throughout the day to denounce the violence and affirm the peaceful nature of demonstrations.
Ain el-Remmaneh and Chiyah mothers organize anti-sectarian rally
- Mothers from the Beiruti suburbs of Ain el-Remmaneh and Chiyah organized a march from Ain el-Rimmeneh to Chiyah to denounce sectarian divisions and Tuesday’s skirmishes. Protesters carried white roses, chanting “peaceful, peaceful; [we’re] against a civil war.”
- This came after Hezbollah and Amal supporters hurled insults and threw rocks over a road dividing the two areas. Residents from Ain el-Remmaneh, some of whom are Lebanese Forces supporters, retaliated by throwing rocks back. The army intervened but tensions continued late into the night with people from both areas conducting neighborhood patrols while wielding batons.
Four detainees released in Tyre
- Four detainees, including two minors, were released on a bail of 500,000 LBP each. They were arrested over a month ago for their alleged involvement in the attack and vandalism of the Tyre Rest House Resort.
- Seven detainees remain in custody. A representative from the committee of volunteer lawyers overlooking this dossier stated that the four others are expected to be released between Wednesday night and Thursday.
On day 42, protesters target banking institutions
- Protesters demonstrated inside major banks across the country, calling for taxes on banks’ profits.
- Meanwhile, protesters who had slept the night before in tents outside the Central Bank in Hamra, continued their demonstration in protest of the central bank’s policies. They wore masks of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, accusing him of theft. Hairdressers at the scene humorously offered people free haircuts in a symbolic plea, after experts and activists have called for “haircuts” on accounts of the largest depositors.
- Meanwhile, across the country, people are growing dismayed with banks after restricted withdrawal limits and blocks on transfers abroad. The exchange rate of USD to LBP exceeded 2000 LBP in the blackmarket, in contrast to the official 1,507.5 LBP.
Gas station owners syndicate announces strike
- The Syndicate of Gas Station Owners announced that starting Thursday, it will begin an open-ended strike across the country. The syndicate justified its move due to the presence of two-dollar exchange rates in the market, and the failure of the Central Bank and petroleum importing companies to commit to the syndicate’s terms.
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