s decision to lebanese university in beirut good evening to you what do you make of the p.m.'s decision to quit and will it be enough to satisfy the demands of the protesters to quit and will it be enough to satisfy the demands of the protesters. oh i don't believe that this sort of ignition will satisfy the. i don't believe that this is ignition will satisfy the demands of the protesters because their demands will go way beyond that they minds of the protesters because their demands will go way beyond that they they were protesting for the past 2 weeks against the whole they were protesting for the past 2 weeks against the whole political elite in the country that have run the country for the past 3 decades and that have led the country to a comic and political crisis a political elite in the country that have run the country for the past 3 decades and that have led the country to a comic and political crisis especially lately there were signs all especially lately 'd there were signs of stagnation of economic crisis and there were a lot of demonstrations stagnation of econom

in beirut jamal what came 1st of history in international relations lebanese university in beirut jamal wakim instead of governing political elites leaving the country to an even worse crisis instead of governing political elites leaving the country to an even worse crisis. i don't believe that this is ignition will satisfy the demand. i don't believe that this is ignition will satisfy the demands of the protesters and now they are calling for more actually they want and of the protesters and now they are calling for more actually they want not only for the resignation of the government but they also look worn and not only for the resignation of the government but they also look worn the indictment of the whole political elite the rehab the indictment of the whole political elite the rehabilitation of all the funds that were looted from the people what they should of all the funds that were looted from the. these people during the past 3 decades to fight corruption and to normalize this during the past 3 decades to fight corruption and to normalize the situation in the country like any

by foreign enemies professor of history and international relations lebanese university in beirut jamal wakim believes that the governing political elite is leading the country to an even better route jamal wakim believes that the governing political elite is leading the country to an even worse political process. i don't believe that this that is ignition political trusts. i don't believe that this that is ignition will satisfy the demands of the protesters and now they are calling for more and will satisfy the demands of the protesters and now they are calling for more action but they want us not only for that ignition to go down but that they want. not only for the resignation of the government but they also want the indictment of the whole political elite they also want the indictment of the whole political elite the rehabilitation of all funds that were looted from the the rehabilitation of all funds that were looted from the libyan his people during the past 3 decades to fight corruption and been his people during the past 3 decades needs to fight corruption and ration in the coun

you know how things are going to develop in the days to come i will give you one example the lebanese university it's been closed since friday now the administration of the university is saying classes are going to resume tomorrow the student union is saying no students are not going to attend classes so the crisis will not result but the biggest question knew how long can this last for the government you really and i won't say you more but enforce the fact that you know road to the to be open and people need to return to their. benefit of that there is a north of beirut for us thank you very much for that update sanna well let's now go live to be a bit elsewhere stephanie deca is live for us steph what's the latest from way you there have been difficulties moving around and we've obviously seen extraordinary numbers protesting over the last few days in beirut but what's happening outside the major cities. while we're on the tripoli highway which needs to the 2nd largest city in the north you can see that still remains this is an artery really so people remain calm to out here this is the area a

office max said is a professor at george washington university who specializes in lebanese politics he says unclear what's next for lebanon's government. hezbollah is the real dominant stakeholder of power in the country it has the capacity to rename heavy together with some of its allies in parliament chief among them of course christian president michel aoun and his powerful son in law the foreign minister and how do you they could then be tasked with forming a technocratic government which he leads. but hezbollah also has the option of going without having the forgoing prime minister had 80 and essentially trying to govern on its own together with its christian primarily christian alast that would be a very difficult thing for hezbollah says temp but they might attempt it anyway there is no doubt that the lebanese structure the very nature of the system that it really is based on a division of spoils among its various communities the christians the sunni the shia the druze there's no doubt that there is a problem at the heart of that but we we've also seen a governing coalition prim

and the human condition is universal. the lebanese army just protesters to open blocked roads after almost 2 weeks of demonstrations. i'm sami's a band this is out as they are alive from. so coming out. after the deadline for kurdish withdrawal from the syria turkey and russia must now in force to say so. the u.k. prime minister gets his wish for an early election and hopes it will break the pranks that deadlock are used to the right 430. protesters continue to fill the streets in bolivia as anger mounts over the reelection of the president.

number of lebanese whose allegiance remains with their political parties it's unclear how much those on the streets can achieve their beirut best professor of international relations at the university of waterloo in canada she says the lebanese government doesn't have a lot of options to try to address the demands of the protesters. well it's really stuck in a very difficult spot because the essence of this challenge is frankly economic and i think the stock speaks for itself the fact that levanon is the 3rd most indebted country in the world hundreds of 150 percent of the g.d.p. it is really pretty incredible and not from mismanagement inefficiency an enormous mother corruption at the very top and you know it doesn't help that you have then this is what's not cracked and it's not just the parts of course the hive pact society but the dots that you have the government asked for $0.20 on a phone call this really broke the camel's back if you will 1 and i think come to this 3 new very national system which is really refreshing for lebanon because the ports in previous months when he's not an inspiration to her business experience since there are no perfect variances this time it seem

university of london . school of oriental african studies thank you thank you. lebanese banks were shot again today demonstrations that paralyzed the country in the fraud long closure of banks has raised fears of economic collapse the central bank says a solution is needed within days of protests to say it's part of the problem. on monday the protests continued all over beirut in places the blockade looks a little like a street party but looks can be deceptive people are angry. that is only $6030.00 m. and if we do not block the roads then we can put pressure on the government get me going we need to bring all the people to the streets and not only those who are already here who have done and then the government will be forced to listen to us. a group of protesters also blocked the road leading to lebanon central bank on monday. dozens of people called for the resignation of the bank's governor riad salome. this is the sentry box at the location where the corruption i was thinking and this is the headquarters. that we're hearing with leaving in the press the formation of

corruption let's get more on this from feet as much as he's a professor at george washington university specializing in lebanese politics and joins us now from washington d.c. good to have you with us on the program 1st of all how much of a game changer would you say the prime minister's resignation is. well 1st let me start by congratulation congratulating the people of lebanon the protesters who for almost 2 weeks now have taken to the streets and done so peacefully really demanding the most basic of things that people ought to have the right to including their dignity and the right to have a decent living what happened today in terms of the resignation of the prime minister and the cabinet would have been impossible if not for the people and the pressure that they were able to maintain over 2 weeks now what happens next is clearly an unknown hezbollah is the real dominant stakeholder of power in the country it has the capacity to rename heavy together with some of its allies in parliament chief among them of course christian president michel aoun and his powerful fun and law the foreign minister and how do y

moment a little bit earlier a professor of international relations at the university of waterloo in canada she's also lebanese government actually doesn't have a lot of options to try to address protestors to moms. well it's really stuck you know in a very difficult spot because you know the essence of this challenge is frankly economic and i think the stock speaks for itself the fact that levanon is the 3rd most indebted country in the world hundreds of 150 percent of the g.d.p. it is really pretty incredible and not from mismanagement inefficiency an enormous not a corruption at the very top and you know it doesn't help that you have then this would stop tax not just the taxes for the high tax asyut das if the government asked for $0.20 on a phone call this really broke the camel's back with the law and i think congress is 3 very national system which assuming we're searching for loved ones because of course in previous months when we must demonstrations they have to zealously carry their you know sort of experience in society it seems to be fact and shia neighborhoods are going after a lot because of a lot

what's app that's momo money is professor of international relations at the university of waterloo in canada she says the lebanese government doesn't have a lot of options to try to address the protesters demands well it's really stuck you know in a very difficult spot because you know the essence of this challenge is frankly economic and i think the stats for itself the fact that levanon is the 3rd most indebted country in the world 100 for 150 percent of the g.d.p. it is really pretty incredible and that's the problem mismanagement inefficiency is an enormous mother corruption at the very top and doesn't help that you have then this is what's not cracking it's not just the the core the high taxes that's that you. were $0.20 on a phone call this really broke the camel's back i think. not very nationalistic really refreshing because of course in previous months. there was a variance and there is no sort of sectarian things this time it seems to be fact neighborhoods are going after this but a lot of them just a lot of the neighborhood after party so it's very interesting because in fact in the very readers themse

also heard from best moment a professor of international relations at the university of waterloo encounter who told us the lebanese government doesn't have a lot of options to try to address the protesters demands. well it's really stuck in a very difficult spot because you know the essence of this challenge is frankly economic and i think the stock speak for itself the fact that levanon is the 3rd most indebted country in the world hundreds of 150 percent of the g.d.p. it is really pretty incredible and not from mismanagement inefficiency an enormous medical ruction at the very top and you know it doesn't help that you have then this whatsapp package not just the parts of course the high packed societies such a vast city of the government asked for $0.20 on a phone call this really broke the camels back to sea and i think people have come to this 3 new very nationalistic known sicilian recession for lebanon because of course in previous times when he's not demonstrations they have business experience since they're you know sort of carrying since this time it seems to be in fact in shia neighborhoods are going aft

lebanese capital. the roads are now open so will schools universities and banks lebanon may no longer be paralyzed but the political crisis is far from over protesters who blocked roads across the country for almost 2 weeks toppled the coalition government prime minister saddle had resigned after failing to form a government free from the influence of political parties the president michel aoun has still to set a date to start consultations with members of parliament to agree on a new prime minister a post held by a son a muslim replacing heidi won't be easy he is considered the representative of that community. but hariri will insist on a semi technocratic government but the ruling coalition is insisting political parties remain represented hariri want to accept that so the other scenario is hezbollah forming a government that is more dominated by the group something it wants to avoid. hezbollah and its allies are the majority in government and parliament but it is under u.s. sanctions like its iranian backer that is why it needs a partner like heidi who is supported by the west house speaker to be a

number of lebanese whose allegiance remains with their political parties it's unclear how much those on the streets can achieve their beirut best a professor of international relations at the university of waterloo and canada she says the lebanese government doesn't have a lot of options to try to address protesters demands. well it's really stuck in a very difficult spot because you know the essence of this challenge is frankly economic and i think the stock speaks for itself the fact that levanon is the 3rd most indebted country in the world 10450 percent of the g.d.p. it is really pretty incredible and not from mismanagement inefficiency an enormous mother corruption at the very often you know it doesn't help that you have then this is what stops tax and it's not just the past of course the high taxes nigh is the dots that you asked for $0.20 on a phone call just really broke the camel's back with you and i think comes of this 3 new very nationalistic tone which is very refreshing for lebanon because of course in previous times when mass demonstrations a half a dozen syrians there is no perfect variances this time it seems to be in fact in shia neighborhoods people are going after

lebanese capital. the roads are now open so will schools universities and banks lebanon may no longer be paralyzed but the political crisis is far from over protesters who blocked roads across the country for almost 2 weeks toppled the coalition government prime minister saddle had resigned after failing to form a government free from the influence of political parties the president michel aoun has still to set a date to start consultations with members of parliament to agree on a new prime minister a post held by a son a muslim. replacing heidi won't be easy he is considered the representative of that community. will insist on a semi technocratic government but the ruling coalition is insisting political parties remain represented hariri want to accept that so the other scenario is hezbollah forming a government that is more dominated by the group something it wants to avoid. hezbollah and its allies are the majority in government and parliament but it is under u.s. sanctions like its iranian backer that is why it needs a partner like who is supported by the west house speaker to be a birdy is warnin

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say the people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address the promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the governor will follow through and recover the stolen money they say they. they want ra

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech that not promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the governor will follow through and recover the stolen money they say they want radical chang

at the london school of economics and also in the lebanese capital beirut salim professor of international affairs and diplomacy at notre dame universityjohm and welcome to inside story thank you for being with us 9 salim in beirut let me start with you saad hariri now tasked with leading a caretaker government with limited powers does this ease the crisis a little bit or does it complicate things further. well on the face of it it has eased the tension it has led to the majority absolute majority of demonstrates or to get to get off the streets or over lebanon. most of the roads have been opened over the past few hours since early early morning and this has allowed movement the transport nation and businesses to reopen their daughters as of today and tomorrow all institution in the country and all businesses will be open once again after 2 weeks of total shut off the road down so now the president. is now to conduct consultation with spider-man members which are constitutionally required to see whom do they want or who prefer to be the next prime minister and based on those consultations which are likely to be scheduled to morrow by t

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say the people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the governor will follow through and we. they say they want radical change they want new

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at the standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech that not promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises and there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the governor will follow through and recover the stolen money they say they want radical change

still on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this still as the protest movement enters its 2nd week. schools universitiesand banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address here promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the government follow through and recover it got stolen money they say they want ra

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually get the government to follow through and recover just all the money they say they want radic

at the london school of economics and also in the lebanese capital beirut salim professor of international affairs and diplomacy at notre dame university gentlemen welcome to inside story thank you for being with us 9 salame in beirut let me start with you saad hariri now tasked with leading a caretaker government with limited powers does this ease the crisis a little bit or does it complicate things further. well on the face of it it has ease and the tension it has led to the majority absolute majority of demonstrates or to get to get off the streets or over lebanon. most of the roads have been opened over the past few hours since early early morning and this has allowed movement the transport haitian and businesses to reopen their daughters as of today and tomorrow all institution in the country and all businesses will be open once again after 2 weeks of total shut off the road down so now the president. is now to conduct consultation with spider-man members which are constitutionally required to see whom do they want or whom they prefer to be the next prime minister and based on those consolidation which are likely to be scheduled t

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the government will follow through and recover the stolen money they say they want radi

yes massive demonstrations not only in the lebanese capital but across the country protesters have called for a general strike shops and schools universities banks they're all closed in fact in many ways protesters have taken over the streets there blocking roads it's very difficult to move around the capital and it's also very difficult to reach one city to another highways are being blocked so the protesters piling yet more pressure on the government which in the next half hour will be meeting prime minister sato is going to present his new economic plan to his ministers and they're expected to approve the plan and then the prime minister is supposed to address the nation but we understand that economic plan doesn't involve imposing new taxes on the poor and this is what triggered the protests because there were reports on thursday that the government intended to impose yet more taxes on the people in order to raise revenues but for the people here it's too little too late what they're saying is that the government should have done this earlier if they're able to do this why now these are corrupt officials and we have no faith in the pro

closed universities are closed some believe that the government is hoping that people will just get tired it's day 5 of the protests you talk about massive demonstrations not just in the lebanese capital but across the country some here are worried that the government may use force may use the army security forces to forcibly disperse the crowds like they did on friday others are worried about the political parties could employ their assad's to face these peaceful protesters there have been a number of incidents over the past few days so people here realize that they do face business but they say that they're ready for that because they want a change but it's still unclear how much they can bring about change in a country where those in power are really control everything they control the money they control the banks and so it is a hard fight but people here feel that i revolution has already happened in one way or another the very fact the crowd the size of the crowd the generation of the protests the fact that the rich the poor muslims christians they've all come together they put aside sectarian differences which really is the 1st 11 on this modern history say no thank you.

thoroughfares blocked, schools, universities, banks, and government institutions have been closed for the past week. the closures are even leading to some food shortages. lebanesermy is actually one of the few government institutions that everyone in lebanon supports. they're seen as a unifying force in a deeply divided time. just yesterday, protestors got the major backing of both christian and muslim leaders in lebanon who called the uprising historic and exceptional. and they appealed to the government to meet the demands of its people. that'll wrap things up for me this hour. i am back here at 10:00 p.m. tonight filling in for lauren. so, please, be here with me, as well. in the meantime, ali velshi is in our nation's capitol. >> short straw. you're working later than me tonight. >> are you doing the 8:00? >> i'm doing 8:00 with chris. i always love it when you end your show on an international story because i really enjoy those. but i have another story because i just -- the penny has just dropped for me. you're a scorpio. >> i am. >> your birthday is soon. >> tomorrow. >> that is amazing. >> and you're a scorpio too, ali. >> i am too. i was just actually

lebanese this morning u.k. intelligence and still through. news this morning u.k. intelligence institutions are reported to leading a campaign to warn you k. universities of foreign missions are reported to leading a campaign to warn you k. universities of foreign spy activity in particular they warn that chinese students could be a spy activity in particular they warn that chinese students could be undercover agents hostile state taxes a target in u.k. university in the cover right. hostile see taxes targeting you can universities to steal personal data research data and intellectual property and these to steal personal data research data and intellectual property and this could be used for their own military commercial and or through tarion interests this could be used for their own military commercial and or through tarion interests universities are being given advice on how to minimize the threat and protect the research from universities are being given advice on how to minimize the threat and protect the research from hostile foreign actors according to government data the number of chinese students hostile foreign actors according to government

on the streets of the lebanese capital beirut and other cities across the country the country is at this standstill as the protest movement enters its 2nd week schools universities and banks remain closed they are keeping up the pressure on the government to resign the president michel aoun who the protesters also want removed from office addressed the nation for the 1st time since the crisis began he presented his solution by promising to fight corruption and invited the protesters to engage in dialogue. with the regime cannot be toppled from the streets the regime must be changed through conditional tools now we have economic models to bring jobs we also have concerns about the economy i am willing to listen to your demands i am waiting for you his invitation was swiftly rejected civil society activists say that people have heard promises like these before the president's speech did not address promises that he will address corruption and try to return some of the stolen money but that's just promises that there is no confidence. with the people that they will actually that the government will follow through and recover the stolen money they say they want radi

the lebanese capital but across the country in different cities this morning it's very hard to move around in beirut because protesters are blocking roads they've all bridges roads strike universities told by their close they're doing their best to fall pressure on the government highways are blocked it's very difficult to reach from one city to another now what is the government going to do because to a certain extent they've taken over the street well the government said deploy they are basic 30 forces we still have behind the tactics used on friday night but since then the security forces have taken a step back but people here are quite worried about the possibility of political parties using their supporters many of them are are deploying them in the street in the face of these demonstrators to scare them away we've seen a number of incidents over the past few days for example in the southern city of tire when armed men who support the house speaker the b. but is about movement. actually make the streets with their guns and intimidate the protesters so there is this is clear that limited government if the government says we've given it to yours i'm out now it's time for you to

lebanese economy is horrible it's creating jobs at the moment the number of people emigrating every year is really insane beyond imagination the number of jobs created to compare to people who are graduating from universities tell you exactly why people are only getting there's nothing strange about it and these are the economic policies of the last 20 years 30 years that have caused these problems the poverty levels are very high the inequality levels i don't know if you're familiar with that but the inequality 11 is one of the worst the top 3 worst countries in the world we're talking about 0 less than one percent of bank accounts owning more than 15 percent of the wealth and we're not talking about people i'm talking about bank accounts so many people many accounts can belong to the same person the levels of inequality the levels of poverty and the levels of injustice the lack of social protection is truly overwhelming it's making people desperate for someone to help them so and so that having the rights that they get from the states for being citizens or residents now they have to go to political leaders and sectarian leaders and beg them for these services and this is how the system of clientele is an