by naharnet — Scuffles renewed Thursday at Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square between anti-government protesters and young men accusing them of “insulting” Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The scuffles had first erupted Wednesday evening but took a more violent turn on Thursday with the increase in the numbers of both the protesters and the “Nasrallah defenders.” Riot police intervened twice on Thursday and separated between the two groups. Al-Jadeed TV meanwhile said an army force had also arrived on the scene. Several people were injured according to TV networks. The pro-Nasrallah group tried to remove tents erected by the protesters during the scuffles. Protesters responded by chanting “All of them means all of them”, a slogan popularized during the 2015 protests and heavily used during the 2019 revolt. Some protesters and media reports said the Nasrallah supporters share the demonstrators’ grievances but refuse any mention or reference to Nasrallah. Other protesters and reports said the pro-Nasrallah young men were deliberately seeking to disrupt the sit-in. Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat meanwhile condemned “attacks on protesters, wherever they may come from.
Bassil Tells FPMers ‘Don’t Fear’ as They Chant Own ‘Hela Ho’ Slogan
Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday told party members not to be scared of the ongoing popular revolt in the country. “The most important thing is: do not fear and do not shake. This Movement does not fear and does not shake,” Bassil told FPMers inside the movement’s headquarters in Sin el-Fil as they came up with their own “Hela, Hela, Ho” pro-Bassil chant in response to the popular slogan used by protesters on the streets – and in some instances inside cafes and supermarkets. “Hela, Hela, Hela, Hela, Ho, Jebran Bassil menhebbo (we love him)”, the supporters chanted. “Hela, Hela, Hela, Hela, Ho, Jebran Bassil k*** emmo” has become the protests’ most popular slogan, mainly in Beirut and the northern Metn areas. Literally translated, the last two words of the slogan seek to insult a person through cursing their mother, but in Lebanon it basically means “f*** you”. Bassil asked supporters not to care about minor “details.” “What’s important is that we are strong and prudent,” he added.
Anti-gov’t protests grow after Lebanese president’s speech
BEIRUT, (Xinhua) — Protests against the government’s policies have increased in Lebanon after a speech delivered by President Michel Aoun on Thursday. More people took to the Lebanese streets, chanting slogans against the government and asking for a complete change in the country’s political system. “We will not leave the streets until the whole regime falls because all politicians are corrupt and they are lying about reform measures,” a protester told Xinhua. Another protester said the reforms announced by Prime Minister Saad Hariri earlier this week are not up to the Lebanese expectations. Aoun’s remarks came after more than a week of nationwide demonstrations asking for the resignation of the government and the change of the whole political system. The Lebanese people have been suffering for many years from the lack of basic services such as electricity, water and proper healthcare.
