Lebanon's army Saturday raided gas stations and seized petrol to curb hoarding as the central bank chief stood firm on his decision to halt fuel subsidies.
Lebanon is gripped by one of the world's worst economic crises since the 1850s, according to the World Bank, and is struggling with fuel, bread and medicine shortages.
"I will not review the removal of subsidies on fuel unless the use of compulsory reserves is legalised" by a parliamentary vote, he told a local radio. They have also caused giant queues at petrol stations that are rationing gasoline supply, allegedly because of low stock. "The importers are to blame," Salameh said, accusing them of squandering $820 million the lender had fronted for three months of imports.Lebanon's central bank funding of fuel and other basic imports has contributed to foreign reserves falling by more than 50 percentTo stem hoarding, the army on Saturday said it was raiding closed gas stations to seize gasoline and distribute it"free of charge" to the people.
"The army's decision is too late," said one motorist who had been waiting for hours in the simmering heat. Salameh has headed the central bank since 1993 and is suspected by many Lebanese of helping facilitate large transfers of money abroad by the political elite during mass protests that began in October 2019.
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