Retired military personnel continue protest at Riad El-Solh Square amid calls for government reforms

Retired military personnel on Tuesday have remained stationed at Riad El-Solh Square and surrounding areas leading to the Grand Serail, amid ongoing road blockades and tire burnings. The protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations until the Cabinet amends its agenda, disseminates its plan, and commits to addressing their demands. Former MP Brigadier General Chamel Roukoz joined the protesters at the main entrance of the Serail, near the Zuqaq al-Blat area. He urged the government to "reconsider the budget, which imposes taxes and fees on the impoverished', and called for fairness for the public sector and retired military personnel across all sectors. Roukoz advocated for new legislation to secure additional funds from support, banking, and financial engineering mechanisms amounting to billions, and demanded a transparent presentation of the project to the Parliament. "If the government wishes to engage with us as a state, we have always been its protectors; however, if they choose to treat us as gangs, we are prepared for that,' he emphasized. Source: National news agency - Lebanon