Hariri steps down after hitting a ‘dead end’ in resolving crisis
VIOLENCE TURNING POINT IN UPRISING; AOUN SAYS NO CARETAKER ROLE FOR CABINET
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri stepped down yesterday after two weeks of anti-government protests descended into violence.
“Today, I won’t hide that I reached a dead end and it’s time for a major shock to confront the crisis,” Hariri said in a televised address. “I’m going to the presidential palace in Baabda to submit my government’s resignation to the president and to the Lebanese people everywhere in response to their will.”
President Michel Aoun said he was studying Hariri’s resignation letter and will not issue
a request for the cabinet to take on a caretaker role, a source in the presidency said.
Hariri’s resignation came hours after supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah party attacked demonstrators in central Beirut and destroyed their tents.
Hundreds of men threw rocks at protesters who had blocked a major Beirut intersection and beat them with sticks. The mob then descended on the main protest area in the capital tearing down tents and setting them ablaze while warning that they would not allow their political leaders — Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and his ally, parliament speaker Nabih Berri — to be criticised or insulted.
The show of violence by two main Shiite parties is a turning point in the uprising, which protesters say has transcended for the first time the sectarian and party divisions that tend to dominate Lebanese politics.
As night fell, protesters returned to central Beirut, unfazed by the violence. Some described Hariri’s resignation as a victory for the “October 17 uprising” and said the attack on the protest camp had redoubled their determination. —
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri resigned yesterday, bowing to one of the central demands of anti-government demonstrators shortly after batonwielding Hezbollah supporters rampaged through the main protest camp in Beirut, torching tents, smashing plastic chairs and chasing away protesters.
The demonstrators later returned to the camp in time to hear the news that Hariri announced he would step down after hitting a “dead end” in trying to resolve the crisis, which has paralysed the country for nearly two weeks. The protesters erupted in cheers at the news.
The Hezbollah rampage marked a violent turning point in Lebanon’s protests, which have called for the resignation of the government and the overthrow of the political class that has dominated the country since the 1975-1990 civil war. The government is dominated by factions allied with Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the country.
“I tried all this time to find an exit and listen to the voice of the people and protect the country from the security and economic dangers,” Hariri said. “Today, to be honest with you, I have hit a dead end, and it is time for a big shock to confront the crisis.”
I tried all this time to find an exit and listen to the voice of the people and protect the country from the security and economic dangers.” Sa’ad Hariri (above) | Lebanon’s Prime Minister
Celebratory mood
Protesters told Gulf News they were feeling like ‘hopeful and proud winners’ after Hariri’s resignation. Surrendering to one of the Lebanese demonstrators’ central demands, Hariri broadcast from Bayt Al Wasat (his residence) to announce that he was heading to the presidential palace in Baabda to submit his written resignation to President Michel Aoun.
Shortly thereafter, protesters started flocking back to Riad Solh and Martyrs Square to celebrate what they saw as their first step towards victory. Gulf News spoke to a cross section of protesters at Riad Solh, who were in a celebratory mood and could be seen dancing, and singing the national anthem. Law student Reem Dandal said: “To be honest, the resignation of Hariri gave us hope that what we’re actually doing on the ground will get us to someplace better.”
Lawyer Ali Abbas said the resignation had been the demand from day one. “It came following protesters’ pressure. First objective has been achieved, now the upcoming step should be forming a small-government of independent technocrats to run the country.”
Media expert Aline Fouad has been participating in protests since they began 13 days ago, an experience she described as “unprecedented and dear to the heart”. “Things started materialising today after the announcement of Hariri’s resignation ... as a first step, this is remarkably good and is to our (Lebanese) advantage,” she said.