1996, november 28 - one day strike to protest prime minister's policies
a one-day general strike was called and hundreds of people demonstrated in beirut against prime minister rafiq hariri's government's policies. workers participating in the general strike were stopped from marching to the prime minister's residence by police and troops. soldiers beat up demonstrators and arrested about 50 people.
the nation-wide strike was called by the 35,000-member general federation of labor to protest economic conditions in the country. at the same time hundreds of workers were protesting against the closure of some 200 media outlets which will leave the country's media in the hands of the established elite. after the strike a coalition of student groups and unions issued a statement calling for the release of the people who were arrested.
the world : middle east : lebanon