Dubai – Masaader News
The government in Lebanon has approved a package of economic reforms as it attempts to quell the biggest protests to sweep the country in over a decade, according to BBC.
Measures include steps to cut Lebanon’s huge deficit, slashing politicians’ salaries by half and giving financial help to families in poverty.
Thousands of Lebanese have taken to the streets, angry at corruption and austerity measures.
The Lebanese economy is struggling with low growth and high debt, and a deteriorating infrastructure has made power cuts and piles of uncollected rubbish part of daily life.
The Lebanese cabinet passed the raft of measures at an emergency meeting on Monday. Mr Hariri had hinted at resigning if the package was not approved.
The demonstrations began on Thursday, when a proposed $6 (£4.60) monthly tax on WhatsApp voice calls was announced.
The tax was scrapped, but the unrest escalated and demonstrators turned their focus to wider grievances with the government, including widespread corruption, economic mismanagement and poor public services.
Lebanon’s economic situation has worsened in recent weeks, with the local currency losing value against the US dollar for the first time in two decades.