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Hezbollah-led opposition protests in the Lebanese capital of Beirut are expected to escalate Jan. 23 before the Paris III international donor's conference in France that starts Jan. 25. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has said he will use the funds raised at the conference to stabilize the economy, in addition to implementing a reform package that would increase the sales tax from the already unpopular 10 percent to 16 percent and raise gasoline prices. Siniora's proposed reforms have spurred the opposition to launch a one-day protest in order to coerce the Siniora government into meeting its demands for a Cabinet expansion that would increase Hezbollah's political representation.
Sources in Hezbollah's protest movement said they have received precise directions for the Jan. 23 rally, which will include a general worker strike and road blockades made of flaming rubber tires. Though Siniora already has vowed that the army will act to prevent the protesters from blocking the roads, Hezbollah has instructed the tire-burning teams to run and blockade others roads as soon as the army arrives to put out the fires on one road. Hundreds of used tires already have been stacked in preparation for the event. This "block-and-run" protest will primarily be concentrated in the Shiite and Christian areas of the city. The protesters plan to keep away from the Sunni areas in order to avoid communal clashes.
Is this getting TV coverage? I am about to sign out for the night.
DAMNNNN I think we may see overthrow of govt in Lebanon pretty soon