Lebanese protesters rally outside state institutions

By Riya Shirtouni

BEIRUT (AA) - Scores of people rallied on Friday in front of financial state institutions in the capital Beirut and other cities over bad economic situation.

Since 6.00 a.m. local time (0400GMT), protesters blocked all the entrances of Tax office building in Beirut, blocking employees from entering the building.

The protesters chanted slogans such as "the tax building is the building of corruption."

Riot police intervened and opened the entrances of the building.

In Zahle city, dozens of protesters demonstrated in front of the Central Bank building, condemning "manipulation of the dollar," according to the protesters.

Raising Lebanese flags, the protesters were chanting slogans against the bank's governor Riyad Salameh.

Dollar's exchange rate on the black market reached to 2,000 Lebanese pound with some selling the dollar for 2,200 pounds, while the official rate of dollar is 1,501-1,514 Lebanese pounds.

Lebanon has been rocked by mass protests since last month against plans for tax increases, which quickly turned into wider grievances.

On Oct. 29, Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned, with no progress toward reaching a deal on a new government.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara.