Lebanon: President's daughter backs protestors' demands

By Riya Shartouni

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - Claudine Aoun, daughter of Lebanon's president, said on Tuesday she supports all "rightful demands" of the Lebanese people.

Aoun said she supports her father's initiative which she named as a 'reformatory initiative'.

In exclusive remarks to Anadolu Agency, she voiced support for some people's demands, saying: "I support the demands for elderly people's insurance and I stand with every woman demanding citizenship for her children".

"I stand by everyone calling for support to the president's reformatory initiative which could be seen as a road map," she added.

At the end of October, President Aoun announced he would change the government and select ministers based on experience, not on their political affiliations.

Yet, the protesters continued their protests saying it doesn't fulfill their demands of improving their living conditions.

Mass protests erupted across Lebanon last month against plans to tax calls on WhatsApp and other messaging services.

The demonstrations quickly turned into wider grievances with calls for the resignation of the Lebanese government and bringing corrupt officials to accountability.

Claudine Aoun is the wife of Lebanese MP Chamel Roukoz, who opposes the president's party -- the Free Patriotic Movement -- and its leader, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara