On day 57, protesters break into governor’s office
- Protesters in Halba gathered outside the Serail, attempting to break through its front gates. Security forces arrived on the scene, clashing with protesters.
- A group of protesters confronted Akkar’s governor, Imad Labaki, and demanded his immediate resignation on claims of corruption. One protester referred to the governor’s illegal licensing of weapons.
- Meanwhile, in Zahle, protesters staged sit-ins outside the National Social Security Fund while in Beirut, the Civil Defense continued with their demonstrations in Riad el Solh. Protesters in Beirut also stormed different commercial banks, chanting and asking for their money.
Amal supporters attack protesters in downtown Beirut
- Late Wednesday night, a group of alleged Amal supporters attacked protesters in downtown Beirut, and burnt down The Hub's tent. Earlier in the evening, anti-establishment protesters marched across Beirut to denounce the Tuesday night attack on protesters by the parliamentary police affiliated with Amal leader Nabih Berri.
- Security forces intervened, firing teargas to disperse the crowd. The standoff between the Amal supporters and security forces lasted hours, with the supporters burning tires and throwing stones, glass bottles, and Molotov cocktails at security forces.
FPM won’t participate in the government on Hariri’s terms
- In a televised speech in the evening, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Leader Gebran Bassil announced that the FPM will not participate in a government headed by Saad Hariri on his terms of “me or nobody else”. Bassil called for a government of specialists, supported by political parties and not under Hariri's leadership.
- This was preceded by a meeting between Bassil and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri in Ain el Tineh. Both men agreed on the importance of dialogue after Berri had asserted through a letter to Bassil that he will not accept for the PPM to not be represented in the government.
Rating agencies downgrade Lebanon
- The credit rating agency, Fitch, downgraded Lebanon’s foreign currency from CCC to CC. It stated that the “emergence of a parallel exchange rate and the failure of the Central Bank to fully service its foreign currency obligations further reflect mounting financial pressure.”
- On Wednesday, Moody’s rating agency also downgraded the Baseline Credit Assessment of Bank Audi, BLOM Bank and Byblos Bank from caa2 to ca. The agency announced in a statement that “the downgrade is driven by the payment of part of foreign currency deposits in local currency by banks in Lebanon following instructions by the country’s central bank, which constitutes a deposit default based on the country’s own definitions.”
Protesters released in Tyre
- Six young men, arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack and arson of Tyre Rest House Resort on October 19, were released in exchange for a fine of 500,000 LBP. They are pending trial.
Families in Tripoli demand the release of detained protesters
- The family of a group of detained men in Tripoli staged a sit-in outside the Military Court. The families are awaiting a decision regarding the 10 protesters detained by the Military Intelligence two weeks ago during a night of rioting in el-Nour Square.
- The families claim they have not been allowed to visit their children since their arrest.
Judge Ghada Aoun files lawsuit against MP Hadi Hbeish
- Mount Lebanon’s State Prosecutor, Judge Ghada Aoun, filed a lawsuit against Future bloc Member of Parliament Hadi Hbeish under charges of defamation and threats.
- This came after Hadi Hbeish stormed into the Judicial Palace in Baabda to denounce Aoun ordering the arrest of Director General of Traffic, Trucks and Vehicles Management Authority Huda Salloum.
REPOSTED FROM @Megaphonenews
Powered by Froala Editor