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Lebanese People Call for The Regime's Downfall

Published October 18th, 2019 - 04:07 GMT

Lebanon canceled plans to tax people for using WhatsApp after the announcement launched the biggest protests there in years.

Thousands of people are in the streets protesting corruption, tax hikes, and the political elite. Protesters filled the streets of downtown Beirut as part of nation-wide demonstrations, block roads with burning tyres. Tear gas was fired as some demonstrators and police clashed in the early hours of Friday morning.

The demonstrations began in Lebanon on Thursday evening. Earlier the government had announced it would charge 20 cents per day for voice over internet protocol (VOIP) use, a feature used by Whatsapp, Facebook, and other applications.

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Lebanese demonstrators break traffic lights amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on October 18, 2019. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators break traffic lights amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on October 18, 2019. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

Lebanese protesters ride horses past burning tires in front of the house of former sports minister Faisal Karami, during a protest against dire economic conditions in the coastal city of Tripoli to the north of Beirut, Lebanon on October 18, 2019 Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

Lebanese protesters ride horses past burning tires in front of the house of former sports minister Faisal Karami, during a protest against dire economic conditions in the coastal city of Tripoli to the north of Beirut, Lebanon on October 18, 2019 Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

A masked man smokes a waterpipe (also known as shisha or hookah) while another holds up a Lebanese national flag as they sit together before overturned dumpsters blocking a road in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, fo

A masked man smokes a waterpipe (also known as shisha or hookah) while another holds up a Lebanese national flag as they sit together before overturned dumpsters blocking a road in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

A masked woman walks with a Lebanese national flag tucked into her pocket past a broken window along a street in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

A masked woman walks with a Lebanese national flag tucked into her pocket past a broken window along a street in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

Lebanese protesters block a main road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

Lebanese protesters block a main road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

A Lebanese protester throws a tire into a fire blocking a road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

A Lebanese protester throws a tire into a fire blocking a road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP

Lebanese demonstrators gather during a mass protest in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. ANWAR AMRO / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators gather during a mass protest in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. ANWAR AMRO / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators gather during a protest against dire economic conditions in Zouk Mikael, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. JOSEPH EID / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators gather during a protest against dire economic conditions in Zouk Mikael, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. JOSEPH EID / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators burn tires during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the northern port city of Tripoli The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators burn tires during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the northern port city of Tripoli The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP

Lebanese demonstrators break traffic lights amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on October 18, 2019. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese protesters ride horses past burning tires in front of the house of former sports minister Faisal Karami, during a protest against dire economic conditions in the coastal city of Tripoli to the north of Beirut, Lebanon on October 18, 2019 Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
A masked man smokes a waterpipe (also known as shisha or hookah) while another holds up a Lebanese national flag as they sit together before overturned dumpsters blocking a road in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, fo
A masked woman walks with a Lebanese national flag tucked into her pocket past a broken window along a street in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
Lebanese protesters block a main road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
A Lebanese protester throws a tire into a fire blocking a road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a mass protest in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. ANWAR AMRO / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a protest against dire economic conditions in Zouk Mikael, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. JOSEPH EID / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators burn tires during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the northern port city of Tripoli The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators break traffic lights amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on October 18, 2019. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators break traffic lights amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on October 18, 2019. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese protesters ride horses past burning tires in front of the house of former sports minister Faisal Karami, during a protest against dire economic conditions in the coastal city of Tripoli to the north of Beirut, Lebanon on October 18, 2019 Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese protesters ride horses past burning tires in front of the house of former sports minister Faisal Karami, during a protest against dire economic conditions in the coastal city of Tripoli to the north of Beirut, Lebanon on October 18, 2019 Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
A masked man smokes a waterpipe (also known as shisha or hookah) while another holds up a Lebanese national flag as they sit together before overturned dumpsters blocking a road in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, fo
A masked man smokes a waterpipe (also known as shisha or hookah) while another holds up a Lebanese national flag as they sit together before overturned dumpsters blocking a road in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
A masked woman walks with a Lebanese national flag tucked into her pocket past a broken window along a street in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
A masked woman walks with a Lebanese national flag tucked into her pocket past a broken window along a street in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
Lebanese protesters block a main road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
Lebanese protesters block a main road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
A Lebanese protester throws a tire into a fire blocking a road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
A Lebanese protester throws a tire into a fire blocking a road near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, amidst ongoing protests against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a mass protest in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. ANWAR AMRO / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a mass protest in the centre of the capital Beirut on October 18, 2019 against dire economic conditions. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on October 17 over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as WhatsApp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. ANWAR AMRO / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a protest against dire economic conditions in Zouk Mikael, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. JOSEPH EID / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators gather during a protest against dire economic conditions in Zouk Mikael, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on October 18, 2019. Public anger has simmered since parliament passed an austerity budget in July to help trim a ballooning deficit and flared on Thursday over new plans to tax calls on messaging applications such as Whatsapp, forcing the government to axe the unpopular proposal. JOSEPH EID / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators burn tires during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the northern port city of Tripoli The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Lebanese demonstrators burn tires during a protest against dire economic conditions, on October 18, 2019 in the northern port city of Tripoli The Lebanese government faced calls to resign Thursday after thousands of furious demonstrators took to the streets across the country to protest dire economic conditions. Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP
Tags:Beirut in protestLebanon

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