Sit-ins in several Lebanese areas in protest against poor living conditions

BEIRUT, (ST)- A number of Lebanese areas witnessed on Wednesday several sit-ins organized by the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers in rejection of lifting the subsidies on some basic materials and in protest against poor living conditions.

 The Lebanese National News Agency reported that a number of protestors staged a sit-in in front of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Beirut within the calls made by the Confederation of Workers to reject the policy of removing subsidies on medicine, fuel and wheat. They raised banners calling for putting those who led the country to economic collapse on trial and recovering the stolen money instead of lifting subsidies, increasing taxes, and blocking roads.

 A number of protesters also gathered in front of the American University Hospital and the Bank of Lebanon in Hamra Street in Beirut.

Members of the Union of Land Transport Syndicates in the south of Mount Lebanon area as well as bus drivers this morning cut off the international highway “Shtura-Beirut at Aley junction. The buses were placed in the middle of the road in both directions, causing heavy traffic.

Similar protests were also organized in the Lebanese cities of Tripoli, Sidon and Ba’albak to express the locals’ discontent over the Lebanese government’s decision to lift the subsidies on fuel, medicine and foodstuffs.

Hamda Mustafa