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Lebanon protests: Mass revolt continues as PM 'agrees reforms' Lebanon protests: Mass revolt continues as PM 'agrees reforms'
(about 3 hours later)
Lebanon's coalition government has reportedly agreed to a package of economic reforms as it attempts to quell the biggest protests in years. Lebanon's coalition government is expected to approve a package of economic reforms as it attempts to quell the biggest protests in years.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets on Sunday for a fourth day of anti-government protests. The proposals reportedly involve scrapping new taxes and halving the salaries of top officials.
The protests were triggered in part by a plan to tax calls on WhatsApp and other messaging services. The government's move comes as people prepare for a fifth day of protests, amid calls for a general strike.
The government quickly dropped the tax, but the protests have morphed into wider demands for reform. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to express their anger against corruption and austerity measures.
The Lebanese economy is struggling with low growth and high debt. Austerity measures have sparked anger and deteriorating infrastructure has made power cuts and piles of uncollected rubbish part of daily life. The Lebanese economy is struggling with low growth and high debt.
On Friday, Lebanon's Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, gave his coalition partners 72 hours to back economic reforms. Proposed new taxes - including one on voice calls via WhatsApp and other messaging services that was quickly scrapped after being announced last Thursday - have sparked anger and deteriorating infrastructure has made power cuts and piles of uncollected rubbish part of daily life.
Government sources cited on news agencies said an agreement was reached on Sunday. What's the latest?
The agreement is said to include plans to privatise key utilities, reduce politicians' salaries and measures to address Lebanon's budget deficit. On Friday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri gave his coalition partners 72 hours to approve economic reforms to ease the crisis, hinting he might resign if they did not.
The reform package is expected to be approved at a cabinet meeting on Monday. Ministers agreed to reduce the salaries of civil servants by 50%, ask banks for $3.3bn (£2.5bn) in budget contributions, privatise the telecommunications sector and overhaul the electricity sector, Reuters news agency reports, citing official sources.
There were also plans to set up new regulatory and transparency bodies, according to the sources.
On Monday morning, President Michel Aoun chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss the reforms package at the Baabda palace.
Before it started, Mr Aoun tweeted that what was happening on the streets reflected the "people's pain", but warned that "generalising corruption [allegations] against everyone carries big injustice".
The government must at least start by lifting banking secrecy for all current and future ministers, he added.
Meanwhile, protesters began to block main roads in central Beirut in preparation for another day of demonstrations.
"It's a day of destiny for us. All our hard work and efforts in previous days and years were to get us to this moment," Roni al-Asaad, one of the protesters, told AFP news agency.
"If they could have implemented these reforms before, why haven't they? And why should we believe them today?"
Why are people protesting?
Lebanon has long had a political system designed to balance power between the country's main religious groups.Lebanon has long had a political system designed to balance power between the country's main religious groups.
Observers say one of the striking features of the protests is how demonstrators have shaken off the country's sectarian divide to unite against their leaders. Observers say one of the striking features of these protests is how demonstrators have shaken off the sectarian divisions to unite against their leaders.
'I am disgusted'
Mass protests erupted on Thursday, when the proposed tax on WhatsApp calls was announced.Mass protests erupted on Thursday, when the proposed tax on WhatsApp calls was announced.
When the tax was scrapped, the demonstrations turned their focus to wider grievances with the government, which has been accused of widespread corruption and economic mismanagement. When the tax was scrapped, the demonstrations turned their focus to wider grievances with the government, which has been accused of corruption and economic mismanagement.
The spontaneous protests, which have hit major cities including the capital Beirut, have seen marchers chant for "revolution". The spontaneous protests, which have hit Beirut and other cities, have seen marchers calling for "revolution".
With debt levels soaring, the Lebanese government has been trying to implement economic reforms to secure an $11bn (£8.5bn) aid package from international donors. With debt levels soaring, the government has been trying to implement economic reforms to secure an $11bn aid package from international donors.
Without economic reforms, Lebanon's debt is forecast to balloon to more than 150% of GDP by the end of the year.Without economic reforms, Lebanon's debt is forecast to balloon to more than 150% of GDP by the end of the year.
The economic crisis, and the Lebanese government's handling of it, has ignited widespread anger, with many calling for political change.
"I am here because I am disgusted by our politicians. Nothing works. This is not a state," Cherine Shawa told Reuters while protesting in Beirut on Sunday.
Hanan Takkouche, also in the capital, said: "We're here to say to our leaders 'leave'."
The protests have been largely peaceful, but dozens of people are reported to have been injured in clashes with police at demonstrations in recent days.