Junblat party: Lebanese demonstrations were political
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 5/12/2006

The political party headed by Lebanese MP, Walid Junblatt, said that the demonstration just held on Wednesday were for political and not economic reasons.

The demonstrators were protesting government planed cuts and reforms. Gulf News reported today that "Prime Minister Fouad Siniora pledged yesterday to move ahead with economic reforms aimed at cutting budget deficits and public debt, despite a huge demonstration against his government's policies."

Gulf News said "Siniora's remarks came a day after a quarter-million-strong wave of workers, students and activists some backed by pro-Syrian groups washed through the Lebanese capital, peacefully protesting a proposed tax hike and calling for Siniora to resign."

Meantime, the Lebanese Progressive Socialist party said it supports Siniora, and that the demonstration aimed to cause the failure of the government led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora with the additional aim by Syria of preventing the Lebanese from moving forward on what was just agreed upon by the Lebanese factions in their recent internal dialog.

The party said the demonstration reflects new Syrian tactics for interference in Lebanon, and cause internal tension. They said this is happening ahead of the decision to set up a court with an international character to investigate the Rafiq al-Hariri and others' assassinations.

Previous Stories:
  May 10 Lebanese demonstration seeks to offset UN pressure on Syria   (5/9/2006)
  Syrian court summons against Walid Junblat   (5/8/2006)
  Michel Aoun on conditions in Lebanon   (5/5/2006)
  Hariri: Political battle underway with remnants of intelligence regime   (5/5/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search