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Lebanon scraps WhatsApp tax as protests rage Lebanon scraps WhatsApp tax as protests rage
(about 5 hours later)
The Lebanese government has backtracked on plans to tax WhatsApp calls as protests rage over the government's handling of an economic crisis. Protests raged for a second day in Lebanon despite the government backtracking on plans to tax WhatsApp calls.
It had announced a new $0.20 (£0.16) daily charge on voice calls made through Facebook-owned WhatsApp and other similar apps. The government had announced a $0.20 (£0.16) daily charge on voice calls made through WhatsApp and other apps.
But it scrapped the plans hours later amid clashes between security forces and protesters.But it scrapped the plans hours later amid clashes between security forces and protesters.
The demonstrations are some of the biggest Lebanon has faced in years. Thousands have protested, calling on the government to step down over its handling of an economic crisis.
Dozens were reported injured as protesters burned tires and security forces fired tear gas. Dozens were reported injured on Thursday as protesters burned tyres and security forces fired tear gas. The demonstrations were the biggest seen in Lebanon for years.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri may cancel Friday's cabinet meeting, a website linked to his party said, as protesters gathered around the government's headquarters.
Why are people protesting in Lebanon?Why are people protesting in Lebanon?
Thousands of Lebanese have taken to the streets amid an economic crisis that many blame on the government. Thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets amid an economic crisis that many blame on the government.
"I was sitting at home and I saw the people on the move and so I came out," Cezar Shaaya, an accountant protesting in Beirut, told Reuters news agency. "I was sitting at home and I saw the people on the move and so I came out," Cezar Shaaya, an accountant protesting in Beirut, told Reuters news agency. "I am married, I have mortgage payments due every month and I am not working. It's the state's fault."
"I am married, I have mortgage payments due every month and I am not working. It's the state's fault." Chants of "the people want to topple the regime" echoed around Beirut's Riad al-Solh square on Thursday. Many also expressed anger over perceived inaction by authorities to tackle the country's worst wildfires in decades.
Chants of "the people want to topple the regime" echoed around Beirut's Riad al-Solh square on Thursday.
Many were also angered by perceived inaction by authorities to tackle the country's worst wildfires in decades.
What about the WhatsApp tax?What about the WhatsApp tax?
On Thursday, the government announced a new daily tax for calls made via voice-over-internet-protocol (Voip), which is used by apps including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Apple's FaceTime.On Thursday, the government announced a new daily tax for calls made via voice-over-internet-protocol (Voip), which is used by apps including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Apple's FaceTime.
Despite the plans being pulled just hours later, protests have continued. The government backtracked hours later, but the protests continued.
"We are not here over the WhatsApp, we are here over everything: over fuel, food, bread, over everything," said Abdullah, a protester in Beirut."We are not here over the WhatsApp, we are here over everything: over fuel, food, bread, over everything," said Abdullah, a protester in Beirut.
The prime minister is expected to deliver a speech on the crisis later on Friday. The prime minister was expected to deliver a speech on the crisis later on Friday.