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Lebanon Financial Crisis Fuels Upheaval; Upheaval Fuels Financial Crisis

Heather Murdock

   BEIRUT - In the parts of Beirut where protesters camp out, financial
   institutions remained shuttered this week, with cartoons of pigs with
   dollar-sign eyes spray-painted on the walls next to graffiti calling
   for revolution.

   In other parts of the city, the banks cautiously reopened, after being
   mostly closed for more than a month since daily anti-corruption
   demonstrations began in October.

   Lebanon is now on the brink of financial collapse, according to
   economists, and the only way out is to build a government and end the
   upheaval. But the current leadership remains unable to agree on a prime
   minister or hold legislative sessions.

   And protesters blame the chaos on corruption among the same stagnated
   political class, saying demonstrations will continue until they all
   resign and are replaced by nonpolitical "technocrats."

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