Lebanon: Thousands protest tax hikes and austerity measures in Beirut

W/S Fire burning near road, Beirut
W/S Fire burning on road
W/S Fire burning on road
M/S Fire on road
W/S Vehicles driving around fire
W/S Protesters gathered outside Government Palace Grand Serail
W/S Protesters clapping
M/S People at protest
W/S Protest
SOT, Protester (Arabic): "This is the pain of the people, the pain of the youth and all the Lebanese, we are disgusted by the stalemate and the taxes imposed on us, because of the failed plans."
M/S Person waving Lebanese flag
C/U Person holding up mobile phone
W/S Protesters seated
SOT, Protester (Arabic): "We are four million people, if we all go out in protest we can make a difference. Everyone has to start from himself."
W/S Protesters
SOT, Protester (Arabic): "I am 22 years old, I must think about my future, but instead, I stand here demanding my most basic rights. If I were in a country that respected me, I would not be jealous of other people. I'll come here and demand my rights, the situation is no longer tolerable."
M/S Protesters
W/S Protesters
SOT, Protester (Arabic): "People reached a limit no longer likely, we feel suffocated. They want us to kill some and steal some, is that what they want? We are dead from hunger, no work, no electricity, no water, and even the air is polluted and carcinogenic. Our children are sick."
W/S Protest
SCRIPT
Thousands of people flooded the streets of Beirut on Thursday as part of nation-wide demonstrations against poor economic conditions and government plans to introduce new taxes.
Protesters can be seen gathering outside the Grand Serail Government Palace, with some waving Lebanese flags.
"We are dead from hunger, no work, no electricity, no water, and even the air is polluted and carcinogenic. Our children are sick," one protester said.
Another protester said "we are four million people, if we all go out in protest we can make a difference."
According to reports, the heavily-indebted Lebanese government unveiled several new measures to raise revenue in an attempt to balance their large budget deficit, including a tax of 20 cents per day for calls made through voice over internet protocol (VoIP), a service used by WhatsApp and Facebook calls.
As the protests gained steam throughout the country, the proposed tax on WhatsApp calls was dropped, reports say.