State accused of scare tactics

The head of Hizbullah's breakaway faction Sobhi Toubeili on July 28 accused the government of treating the Lebanese as enemies and using the security forces as a scare tactic.

At a rally in Jlalla, near Baalbek, Toubeili said the government is concerned about increasing security forces to "suppress the people and follow their every step."

"They threaten everyone who demands rights, keep needed items from our children so they do not learn."

He was referring to a suggestion to curb the import of powdered milk as one of a series of measures to cut the food import bill and prop up local industry.

Toubeili called for civil disobedience "to correct the economic situation in Lebanon."