01:45Demonstrators including veterans from Lebanon's military and security forces set tyres on fire at Riad Al Solh Square in Beirut on Friday. They were protesting for a second time in two weeks against proposed pension cuts. The government has been discussing a budget that would cut public spending in the name of austerity.
Following the first wave of protests, an article stipulating a three-percent pension cut was removed from the budget draft on Tuesday, according to media citing Defence Minister Elias Bou Saab.
Veterans ask for the removal of any budget cuts that would affect them, according to reports.
On Thursday, the cabinet reportedly decided to reduce the deficit to eight percent of the current year's GDP with all ministries' budgets to be reduced by 20 percent. Talks on the draft will continue this Friday.
Lebanon has one of the largest levels of public debt in the world at around 150 percent of GDP.
Lebanon: Scuffles as veterans burn tyres at Beirut protest against pension cuts
Demonstrators including veterans from Lebanon's military and security forces set tyres on fire at Riad Al Solh Square in Beirut on Friday. They were protesting for a second time in two weeks against proposed pension cuts. The government has been discussing a budget that would cut public spending in the name of austerity.
Following the first wave of protests, an article stipulating a three-percent pension cut was removed from the budget draft on Tuesday, according to media citing Defence Minister Elias Bou Saab.
Veterans ask for the removal of any budget cuts that would affect them, according to reports.
On Thursday, the cabinet reportedly decided to reduce the deficit to eight percent of the current year's GDP with all ministries' budgets to be reduced by 20 percent. Talks on the draft will continue this Friday.
Lebanon has one of the largest levels of public debt in the world at around 150 percent of GDP.
Demonstrators including veterans from Lebanon's military and security forces set tyres on fire at Riad Al Solh Square in Beirut on Friday. They were protesting for a second time in two weeks against proposed pension cuts. The government has been discussing a budget that would cut public spending in the name of austerity.
Following the first wave of protests, an article stipulating a three-percent pension cut was removed from the budget draft on Tuesday, according to media citing Defence Minister Elias Bou Saab.
Veterans ask for the removal of any budget cuts that would affect them, according to reports.
On Thursday, the cabinet reportedly decided to reduce the deficit to eight percent of the current year's GDP with all ministries' budgets to be reduced by 20 percent. Talks on the draft will continue this Friday.
Lebanon has one of the largest levels of public debt in the world at around 150 percent of GDP.