Lebanese President Michel Aoun broke his silence after a week of unprecedented protests Thursday, expressing willingness to meet demonstrators.
"I am ready to meet your representatives... to hear your demands," he said in a short televised speech, his first since daily street protests began on October 17.
The speech was met with derision at demonstrations in Beirut and other cities.
The protesters have been venting their frustration at daily woes from lack of healthcare to power cuts, and calling for the replacement of a political system they say is corrupt and broken.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday presented a package of reforms, including cutting ministerial salaries, but the peaceful rallies have continued, crippling Beirut and other major cities.
"The reform paper that was approved will be the first step to save Lebanon and remove the spectre of financial and economic collapse," Aoun said.
"It was your first achievement because you helped remove obstacles in front of it and it was adopted in record speed," the president told protesters.
In Lebanon, the president does not control government policy, though Aoun's political party, the majority-Christian Free Patriotic Movement, is a key part of Hariri's governing coalition.
The president also echoed calls on the street to stamp out graft.
"Every person who stole public money should be held accountable but it is important their sect doesn't defend him blindly," he said.
Dozens of protesters listening to the speech on loudspeakers outside parliament booed it and resumed their calls for fundamental reform, an AFP correspondent reported.
Among them, Rabah Shahrour said he was fed up with hearing the same speeches for years.
"We were looking for a little hope from him," he said of the president's speech.
"But sadly the president today spoke in generalities. We've being hearing these generalities for three years, and they haven't led to anything."
AFP
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.