Thousands Gather in Beirut, Lebanon for Anti-Government Protest

Tens of thousands of Lebanese take to the streets for a fourth day, Sunday, October 20, to protest political stasis and corruption, as the government was rocked by the resignation of a coalition partner.

—— READ MORE: Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave his government partners a 72-hour deadline on Friday to agree on reforms that could ward off economic crisis, hinting he may otherwise resign.

The latest unrest erupted out of anger over the rising cost of living and new tax plans, including a fee on WhatsApp calls, which was quickly retracted after protests – the biggest in decades – broke out.

In a televised speech addressing the protests, Saturday, October 19, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the group opposed the government’s resignation, and that the country did not have enough time for such a move given the acute financial crisis.