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AFP
Beirut
Lebanese protesters blocked main roads on Wednesday, angered by what they saw as the president ignoring their demands in nearly a month of demonstrations, after a man was shot dead.
Hundreds protested near the palace of President Michel Aoun in the town of Baabda outside the capital, where security forces laid coils of barbed wire across the access road.
Aoun had said on television the previous night that Lebanese who did not see any decent person in power should “emigrate” -- a comment that, despite the presidency scrambling to clarify it, immediately sent angry protesters to the streets.
Protester Engy, 47, said she had been shocked by the president’s comments. “What the president said was very belittling. It was as if we didn’t even exist,” the engineer said, carrying a Lebanese flag.
“So we’ve come out to make sure he hears us.” Lebanon’s unprecedented protest movement, which broke out on October 17, has been calling for a complete overhaul of a political elite accused of inefficiency and corruption.
After the government stepped down on October 29, protesters demanded a fresh cabinet composed of experts not affiliated with any of the traditional political parties.
But Aoun in the interview argued that a government made up solely of independent technocrats would not represent the people or be able to set policies.
“Where should I look for them? On the moon?” he said, arguing true independents were scarce in a country where most people follow a specific political party.
Aoun also criticised the street movement’s lack of leadership, after previously saying he would be prepared to meet representatives to hear their demands.
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14/11/2019
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