Thousands March in Beirut to Protest Jump in Prices
Thousands of demonstrators marched through Muslim West Beirut today to protest skyrocketing prices, and bombs exploded at a bank in Beirut and two grocery stores in Sidon.
More than 3,000 women, children and students marched from the office of Prime Minister Rashid Karami to the nearby Central Bank, where they tore up 1-pound notes and shouted slogans demanding government action to curb inflation.
Climbing prices are “pushing us to steal,” one wheelchair-bound demonstrator shouted.
The demonstration was peaceful, but police beefed up security outside the Central Bank, target of a grenade attack Wednesday.
The Lebanese pound, valued at 33 U.S. cents in 1975 at the start of the civil war, is now worth a penny and a half--and falling fast.
Food prices have soared dangerously during the past month, triggering armed robberies at grocery stores and raids on banks.
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