Lebanese call for end to economic turmoil in Beirut protest

While Lebanon hosted the Arab Economic and Social Development summit, several hundred protesters marched in the streets of Beirut on Sunday blaming politicians for mounting political and economic troubles in the country.  

Protesters say the date had already been decided and was not set to coincide with the ongoing summit.  

 “We are taking to the streets today, first of all against the authorities that have brought the country to a state of collapse, and to warn the authorities from carrying on with this approach, because this will lead to the collapse of the country,” said protester Omran Fouani.

Lebanon, heavily indebted and suffering from low economic growth, is in dire need of an administration to enact long-stalled reforms and put public debt on a sustainable footing.

Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri has been seeking to finalize a deal on a government that splits portfolios among rival groups according to a sectarian power-sharing system.

During the march in the Lebanese capital, protester Samir Skayni said a collapse was imminent.

“We are here in anticipation of the great collapse that is coming, that has already stated, actually. The idea, in brief, is that someone has to pay the price for this collapse,” he said.

The World Bank says the latest available official poverty rate shows that nearly one third of Lebanese are poor.