Raya el Hassan confirms: convoy of Ali Hassan Khalil shot at protesters
- Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities Raya el Hassan confirmed that the convoy that opened fire on protesters in front of parliament on November 19 belonged to Caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.
- During a televised interview on LBCI, Hassan answered journalist Albert Costanian’s question about the incident with: “Everyone knows by now...” then said, “it was the convoy of the finance minister.”
- On November 19, an unidentified minister’s convoy had opened fire on protesters demonstrating in front of parliament to denounce an unconstitutional parliamentary session.
Hariri withdraws his candidacy for Prime Minister
- For the second time since he resigned on October 29th, Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced that he will not be accepting the candidacy for the premiership, Citing lack of compromise from other players. Various parties had backed the nomination of Hariri this Thursday.
- This comes on the eve of the planned parliamentary consultations set to take place on Thursday. In his statement, Hariri insisted on the consultations taking place as planned.
Attacks on Nabatiye protesters for the third day in a row
- For the third night in a row, Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters attacked protesters in Nabatiye.
- After the army deployed in the protest square to disperse them, the supporters of the two parties returned to harass protesters another time.
- Protests continued in Nabatiye and Kfar Ruman in spite of the unrest.
On day 63, protests denounce sectarianism
- As the revolution enters its third month, hundreds marched in Tripoli to denounce the establishment’s attempt at inducing sectarian strife.
- In Beirut, protesters organized an anti—sectarian march from Sassine Square towards parliament. A group of protesters demonstrated outside Electricité du Liban, wearing Dali masks and red uniforms in reference to the series La Casa De Papel. In Halba, protesters demonstrated outside public institutions, while in Nabatiye, protests continued in spite of threats.
- Meanwhile, across Lebanon, several protesters went live, online, from banks to document how new measures barred them from withdrawing even small amounts of their deposited money.
Authorities build new cement walls around parliament
- Cement walls and blocs were erected in Beirut’s central district, blocking off streets leading to and from Riad el Solh Square, as well as parliament.
- An Internal Security Forces officer, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the barriers were intended to help control access to the sites and prevent further clashes. Protesters in Beirut organized a march to denounce the new “walls of shame” and to stand in solidarity with protesters attacked in Nabatiye and Beirut.
Protesters replace Tripoli’s Christmas tree that was set on fire
- Late Tuesday night, unknown perpetrators set fire to a Christmas tree in Tripoli’s Nini roundabout. Protesters in Tripoli replaced the Christmas tree on Wednesday, denouncing the attacks which they considered a scheme by the establishment to provoke sectarian strife.
- A guard’s room at the residence of the Mufti of the North was also trashed with dumpsters set on fire.
- Security forces arrested 8 people, 4 of whom confessed to taking part in the attack, according to the police. The other 4 had previous warrants issued against them.
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