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Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri resigning amid protests Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri resigning amid protests
(32 minutes later)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he is resigning, amid protests that have gripped the country for two weeks.Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he is resigning, amid protests that have gripped the country for two weeks.
Mr Hariri said Lebanon had reached a deadlock and needed a shock to break the crisis.Mr Hariri said Lebanon had reached a deadlock and needed a shock to break the crisis.
The protests began against now-scrapped plans to tax WhatsApp calls, but quickly widened to target political corruption and the economic turmoil.The protests began against now-scrapped plans to tax WhatsApp calls, but quickly widened to target political corruption and the economic turmoil.
Lebanon has one of the highest debt levels in the world.Lebanon has one of the highest debt levels in the world.
In a televised address, Mr Hariri said he would tender his resignation and that of the government to President Michel Aoun. The protests have led to a 10-day closure of banks, with many other offices, schools and universities also shut.
What did Mr Hariri say?
In a televised address, the prime minister said he had reached a "dead end" and that he would tender his resignation and that of the government to President Michel Aoun.
Mr Hariri said: "For 13 days, the Lebanese people have waited for a decision for a political solution that stops the deterioration. And I have tried, during this period, to find a way out, through which to listen to the voice of the people."Mr Hariri said: "For 13 days, the Lebanese people have waited for a decision for a political solution that stops the deterioration. And I have tried, during this period, to find a way out, through which to listen to the voice of the people."
But he added: "It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis." But he added: "It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis.
Camps destroyed "Posts come and go, what matters is the safety and dignity of the people."
The demonstrations have reflected the schisms within Lebanese society and have led to a 10-day closure of banks, with many other offices, schools and universities also shut. President Aoun is still to comment. If the resignation is accepted, the constitution would require Mr Hariri to stay on until a new administration is established.
The militant Shia group, Hezbollah, which has dominated Mr Hariri's coalition government, has recently hardened its stance against the protests. What is the state of the protests?
The prime minister's announcement came as the situation on the ground turned increasingly violent, reflecting the deep-seated schism in Lebanese society.
The militant Shia group, Hezbollah, which has dominated the coalition government led by Mr Hariri, a Sunni, has recently hardened its stance against the protests.
On Tuesday, black-clad men loyal to Hezbollah and another Shia group, Amal, destroyed a protest camp in central Beirut, chanting slogans, setting tents on fire and beating anti-government demonstrators. A roadblock set up by protesters was also attacked.On Tuesday, black-clad men loyal to Hezbollah and another Shia group, Amal, destroyed a protest camp in central Beirut, chanting slogans, setting tents on fire and beating anti-government demonstrators. A roadblock set up by protesters was also attacked.
Riot police and troops have tried to separate the rival groups, firing tear gas. Riot police and troops fired tear gas to separate the rival groups.
The protesters remained defiant in central Beirut. Less than an hour after being attacked they erupted into applause at the announcement of Mr Hariri's resignation.
"Saad Hariri is only the beginning," one told a local TV channel.
How did we get to this point?
The crisis began on 17 October when the government announced a new daily tax for calls made via voice-over-internet-protocol (Voip), which is used by apps including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Apple's FaceTime.
The government backtracked within hours but the protests were soon under way and quickly burgeoned.
As one demonstrator said: "We are not here over the WhatsApp, we are here over everything: over fuel, food, bread, over everything."
Last week, Mr Hariri and his coalition, including Hezbollah, agreed to a plan of reforms to try to placate protesters, but their campaign continued.
On Friday, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said "someone is trying to pull [Lebanon]... towards a civil war", suggesting the protests were funded by foreign powers and indicating a harsher policy towards the protesters.
Hezbollah had argued against Mr Hariri's resignation, saying it could result in a void in Lebanese government.Hezbollah had argued against Mr Hariri's resignation, saying it could result in a void in Lebanese government.
Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has suggested the protests are funded by foreign powers and last Friday said "someone is trying to pull [Lebanon]... towards a civil war".
Mr Hariri and his coalition administration, including Hezbollah, had earlier agreed to a plan of reforms to try to placate protesters, but their campaign has continued.
The BBC's Martin Patience says many in the population are tired of economic stagnation, endemic corruption and a lack of basic public services.The BBC's Martin Patience says many in the population are tired of economic stagnation, endemic corruption and a lack of basic public services.
He adds that the developments will alarm the West, which regards Lebanon as an island of relative stability in a turbulent Middle East.He adds that the developments will alarm the West, which regards Lebanon as an island of relative stability in a turbulent Middle East.
A power-sharing agreement that ended the country's civil war 30 years ago has kept the peace, but it has failed to halt the slide towards economic crisis. The power-sharing agreement that ended the country's civil war 30 years ago has kept the peace, but it has failed to halt the slide towards economic crisis.