Lebanese protest against soaring living costs

By Raya Sartuni and Adnan el-Huseyin

BEIRUT (AA) - Protests erupted in several parts of Lebanon on Sunday against worsening living conditions and spiraling food costs.

The depreciation of the Lebanese pound, with its exchange rate to the dollar nearly 4,000 in the black market, has led to protests in many provinces due to high living costs.

People gathered in Tripoli, Chekka, Zalka, Saadiyat and staged demonstrations. Protesters blocked Palma Bridge located between Tripoli and Beirut and burned tires.

People in Zalka and Saadiyat also protested the situation with tire burnings.

Lebanon suffers from high unemployment, slow growth and one of the highest debt ratios in the world.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the situation in the country, with the government deciding to extend measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

The country's Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab convened Friday to discuss developments.

In the meeting, the ministers decided to extend measures until May 10 and to revise the curfew hours from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (1600 to 0200GMT) to 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time (1800 to 0200GMT).

Lebanon has 707 coronavirus cases and 24 deaths as well as 145 recoveries, according to data from US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, Diab said some people in the country are insistent on deepening the economic crisis.

He accused Riad Salameh, the head of the Central Bank, of being responsible for the devaluation of the Lebanese currency.

"Everyone should be transparent and honest to the Lebanese people," he said, adding those who want to disturb the country’s financial stability will not be tolerated.