On day 90, revolution reignites nationwide
- Protesters marked the “Week of Anger” by blocking roads nationwide, including in Furn el Chebbak, Jal el Dib, Ouzai, the Ring, Khalde, Sidon, Jiyeh, Taalabaya, Baakline, Aley, Jounieh, Zahle, and Tripoli. They protested Prime Minister—designate Hassan Diab’s stagnation in forming a government, as well as banks’ policies.
- Students joined protesters across the country, including in Beirut, Byblos, Jdeideh, Jal el Dib, and Koura. In the morning, Sidon school students helped block the Elia roundabout and staged a march across the city, stopping at EDL and several banks.
- In Jal el Dib and Jdeideh, students blocked main roads, with hundreds closing the highway from both sides.
Protesters’ anger targets Central Bank
- Protesters in Beirut broke the barricades to the Central Bank late last night, and arrived Tuesday to find them rebuilt, which renewed their zeal. Numbers increased throughout the day as angry protesters toppled trash cans and blocked the road by Fransabank’s Hamra headquarters.
- Protesters tried to storm the Central Bank in the evening by throwing firecrackers into the building and breaking the glass barricade separating the riot police from protesters. Riot police, in turn, threw rocks on and violently pushed back protesters. As altercations increased, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. Protesters were arrested, including artist and activist Alexandre Paulikevitch, and at least 13 were injured.
African refugees stage a protest at UNHCR
- Sudanese and Ethiopian refugees protested at the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) headquarters in Jnah, demanding to be officially designated as political refugees.
- Several protesters have said that the agency had unfairly stopped their monthly aid, which they need to afford rent and other basic needs. This has forced a number of families out of their homes, leading them to erect tents outside the agency despite dire weather conditions.
- Refugees have been staging peaceful protests for three months and were met with a violent crackdown by the UNHCR’S security, leading to the arrest of 11 protesters, seven of whom remain in custody.
Hariri returns to Beirut as Diab’s allies abandon him
- Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri returned to Beirut after several weeks vacationing in France. He attended the meeting of the Future bloc, which released a statement placing the blame of the current political stalemate on President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister—designate Hassan Diab.
- Hariri’s return comes amid signs that Diab’s allies may have abandoned him. Several politicians, including Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, have also called for the caretaker government to reactivate its role. Hariri, however, said that the outgoing government was working under a jurisdiction he deemed “acceptable.”
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