After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the rebels appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as the caretaker prime minister of the transitional Syrian government till March 1, 2025.

“The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," said Bashir in a statement on the state television’s Telegram account.

Before the 12-day lightning offensive of rebels which led to the fall of Damascus, the rebel-led 'Salvation Government' was being run by Al-Bashir.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-conflict-rebels-name-mohammed-al-bashir-as-head-of-transitional-govt-782998">Syrian conflict: Rebels name Mohammed al-Bashir as head of transitional govt</a>

As per media reports, Syria’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met outgoing Syrian prime minister Mohammed al-Jalali and discussed the “transfer of power".

<h2>Who is Mohammed al-Bashir?</h2>

Mohammed al-Bashir is a politician and Syrian engineer who started his fifth tenure as the prime minister of the Syrian Salvation Government, which is affiliated with HTS, in January.

Bashir was born in 1986 in Jabal Zawiya region of Idlib, as per his resume which was published by the Salvation Government.

Bashir has multiple qualifications which range from engineering, law, and administrative planning. He received a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and specialised in communications from the University of Aleppo in 2007.

The caretaker prime minister also took courses in English language, administered by the Ministry of Education, in 2010.&nbsp;

He also received a degree in Sharia and law with honours from the University of Idlib in 2021.

In the same year, Bashir also got a certificate in administrative planning and completed a certification in project management from the Syrian International Academy for Training, Languages, and Consulting.

He worked as an engineer in a gas plant affiliated with the Syrian Gas Company.

After the Syrian uprising against Assad in 2011, Bashir resigned from his job at government institutions and joined "the ranks of the revolutionaries in the military field", as per his CV.

Watch:&nbsp;Syria Civil War: Israel Launches Over 300 Airstrikes In Post-Assad Syria

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He held the position of minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the rebel government between 2022 and 2023.

He was elected as the prime minister in January 2024 by the Shura Council of the Salvation Government. E-government and automation of government services were prioritised by his election platform.

After HTS and other Syrian rebel groups launched their offensive in Northwestern Syria in late November and captured Aleppo, Bashir in a press conference announced that the offensive was a response to attacks on the civilians by the Syrian regime, in which "tens of thousands" of people were displaced.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the rebels appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as the caretaker prime minister of the transitional Syrian government till March 1, 2025.

After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the rebels appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as the caretaker prime minister of the transitional Syrian government till March 1, 2025. “The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," said Bashir in a statement on the state television’s Telegram account. Before the 12-day lightning offensive of rebels which led to the fall of Damascus, the rebel-led 'Salvation Government' was being run by Al-Bashir. Also Read: Syrian conflict: Rebels name Mohammed al-Bashir as head of transitional govt As per media reports, Syria’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met outgoing Syrian prime minister Mohammed al-Jalali and discussed the “transfer of power". Who is Mohammed al-Bashir? Mohammed al-Bashir is a politician and Syrian engineer who started his fifth tenure as the prime minister of the Syrian Salvation Government, which is affiliated with HTS, in January. Bashir was born in 1986 in Jabal Zawiya region of Idlib, as per his resume which was published by the Salvation Government. Bashir has multiple qualifications which range from engineering, law, and administrative planning. He received a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and specialised in communications from the University of Aleppo in 2007. The caretaker prime minister also took courses in English language, administered by the Ministry of Education, in 2010. He also received a degree in Sharia and law with honours from the University of Idlib in 2021. In the same year, Bashir also got a certificate in administrative planning and completed a certification in project management from the Syrian International Academy for Training, Languages, and Consulting. He worked as an engineer in a gas plant affiliated with the Syrian Gas Company. After the Syrian uprising against Assad in 2011, Bashir resigned from his job at government institutions and joined "the ranks of the revolutionaries in the military field", as per his CV. Watch: Syria Civil War: Israel Launches Over 300 Airstrikes In Post-Assad Syria He held the position of minister of development and humanitarian affairs in the rebel government between 2022 and 2023. He was elected as the prime minister in January 2024 by the Shura Council of the Salvation Government. E-government and automation of government services were prioritised by his election platform. After HTS and other Syrian rebel groups launched their offensive in Northwestern Syria in late November and captured Aleppo, Bashir in a press conference announced that the offensive was a response to attacks on the civilians by the Syrian regime, in which "tens of thousands" of people were displaced. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Mohammed al-Bashir, the new caretaker prime minister of Syria?

The extraordinary teeth-cleaning session of a hippopotamus has gone viral and left the netizens amused.&nbsp;

The video was shared on X by the popular page Nature is Amazing, and it soon went viral as it amassed nearly five lakh views.&nbsp;

In the video, the giant hippo is seen obediently keeping his enormous mouth wide open as the caretaker cleans the teeth.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-viral-baby-pygmy-hippo-who-has-inspired-make-up-looks-merchandise-and-more-758656">Viral baby pygmy hippo who has inspired make-up looks, merchandise and more</a>

The teeth are seen getting cleaned meticulously with a sponge-like brush and water pipe. The animal appears surprisingly calm and well-trained for the session.&nbsp;

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Hippos getting their teeth cleaned <a href="https://t.co/dY5mrY669P">pic.twitter.com/dY5mrY669P</a>
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) <a href="https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1838325125730415006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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According to Britannica, a hippo can grow around 40 teeth and the incisor and canine teeth of this animal are extremely large. “Hippos getting their teeth cleaned,” read the caption.

<h2>Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video&nbsp;</h2>

Reacting to the video, one user said, “I never knew hippos needed dental care! This is both fascinating and adorable.”&nbsp;

“Seeing a hippo so relaxed while getting its teeth brushed is a sight I didn’t know I needed today!,” another user commented.

“This is just too cute! Who would have thought hippos could be so gentle?,” commented a third user.

“Nature never ceases to amaze me,” wrote a viewer.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Moo Deng: Two-month-old pint-sized Hippo goes viral for cuteness

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/moo-deng-two-month-old-pint-sized-hippo-goes-viral-for-cuteness-759252/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I bet this hippo has the best teeth in the animal kingdom!," said another user.

“The most dangerous animal can be so darn adorable,” stated a comment, while another read, "Wow. Look at that patience level."

Another wrote, “Wow, those are damn big teeth! Surprised they don’t have more of them!”

“The one in back, waiting his turn. They seem to enjoy it,” commented a user on X.

“This one looks friendly, just remember, in the wild, hippos are extremely territorial and will flip boats and kill people,” wrote a user.

(With inputs from agencies)

The extraordinary teeth-cleaning session of a hippopotamus has gone viral and left the netizens amused. The video was shared on X by the popular page Nature is Amazing, and it soon went viral as it amassed nearly five lakh views.

The extraordinary teeth-cleaning session of a hippopotamus has gone viral and left the netizens amused. The video was shared on X by the popular page Nature is Amazing, and it soon went viral as it amassed nearly five lakh views. In the video, the giant hippo is seen obediently keeping his enormous mouth wide open as the caretaker cleans the teeth. Also Read: Viral baby pygmy hippo who has inspired make-up looks, merchandise and more The teeth are seen getting cleaned meticulously with a sponge-like brush and water pipe. The animal appears surprisingly calm and well-trained for the session. Hippos getting their teeth cleaned pic.twitter.com/dY5mrY669P — Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) September 23, 2024 × According to Britannica, a hippo can grow around 40 teeth and the incisor and canine teeth of this animal are extremely large. “Hippos getting their teeth cleaned,” read the caption. Here's how netizens reacted to the viral video Reacting to the video, one user said, “I never knew hippos needed dental care! This is both fascinating and adorable.” “Seeing a hippo so relaxed while getting its teeth brushed is a sight I didn’t know I needed today!,” another user commented. “This is just too cute! Who would have thought hippos could be so gentle?,” commented a third user. “Nature never ceases to amaze me,” wrote a viewer. Watch: Moo Deng: Two-month-old pint-sized Hippo goes viral for cuteness "I bet this hippo has the best teeth in the animal kingdom!," said another user. “The most dangerous animal can be so darn adorable,” stated a comment, while another read, "Wow. Look at that patience level." Another wrote, “Wow, those are damn big teeth! Surprised they don’t have more of them!” “The one in back, waiting his turn. They seem to enjoy it,” commented a user on X. “This one looks friendly, just remember, in the wild, hippos are extremely territorial and will flip boats and kill people,” wrote a user. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Giant hippo’s teeth cleaning session goes viral, netizens call it ‘adorable’

A Chinese woman quit her job to become a "full-time" daughter for her parents. She gets a salary of $565 per month. What is this new job? Why are Chinese people turning to such alternatives? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Tired of your job? Become your parents' caretaker

In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Interim Prime Minister will be Mullah Hasan Akhund, who had headed the Taliban government in Kabul during the last years of its rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan

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Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America's final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of Akhund's two deputies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the announcement. Mullah Yaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/breaking-taliban-announce-leader-first-ministers-in-new-government-411393" hreflang="en">Breaking: Taliban announce leader, first ministers in new government</a> &nbsp;

"The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul. "We will try to take people from other parts of the country."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha and member of the first regime's cabinet, was named foreign minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the lineup, there was no evidence of non-Taliban representation, which was a big demand of the international community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies.

In order to pay homage to the old guard of the group, The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet. It has given top posts to Taliban personalities, who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies. The Interim Prime Minister will be Mullah Hasan Akhund, who had headed the Taliban government in Kabul during the last years of its rule. Watch: Hundreds of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against Pakistan × Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America's final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of Akhund's two deputies. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the announcement. Mullah Yaqub, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister. The position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the feared Haqqani network. Also Read | Breaking: Taliban announce leader, first ministers in new government "The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting," Mujahid said at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul. "We will try to take people from other parts of the country." Amir Khan Muttaqi, a Taliban negotiator in Doha and member of the first regime's cabinet, was named foreign minister. In the lineup, there was no evidence of non-Taliban representation, which was a big demand of the international community. (With inputs from agencies)

Paying homage to old guard, Taliban name caretaker Afghanistan cabinet

As the hunt for a new Prime Minister begins, Malaysia's king on Tuesday urged&nbsp;rival politicians to unite in the battle against coronavirus.

Following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, analysts say the monarch is trying to nudge the country's political parties toward forming a unity government.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-prime-minister-quits-to-take-up-caretaker-role-405981">Malaysia's prime minister quits, to take up caretaker role</a>

As a result of the outbreak, the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has ruled out elections, which means he will likely choose the next premier himself based on who commands the greatest support.

However, no party has majority support in parliament, making it impossible to choose a successor to Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin's&nbsp;turbulent 17 months in office finally ended with resignation when he lost his parliamentary majority amid mounting public anger over the way his government handled the worst <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> wave in Malaysia.

The long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he and other party leaders met at the palace and the king told them "the country is a facing political and constitutional crisis".

"So we should unite to fight the coronavirus and help bolster the economy."

"By the look of it, all the parties seem to have come to a consensus -- that is to end 'old politics'... and focus on the development of the country," he added.

In addition to some opposition groups supporting Anwar, remnants of Muhyiddin's collapsed government may work together to put together a coalition government, while others have called for a unity government until the outbreak has been controlled.

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To be a premier, an individual must have the support of at least 111 out of 222 lawmakers in the lower house.

In addition to the monarch, the influential deputy king attended the meeting.&nbsp;

This indicated agreement among&nbsp;Malaysia's revered Islamic royal families "with regards to the proposal for a unity government", said Oh Ei Sun, an analyst at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

MPs have also been asked to submit the name of their choice for the prime minister to the palace by Wednesday afternoon, and the drama is expected to take several days to play out.

There has been disarray in Malaysia's political landscape since the elections in 2018, which saw a scandal-plagued coalition ejected from power after 60 years in power, and replaced by a reformist alliance.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/malaysian-pm-muhyiddin-resigns-after-losing-majority-406061/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, that alliance collapsed in March last year, and Muhyiddin went on to become prime minister without an election.&nbsp;

It was, nevertheless, an unstable government, with a razor-thin majority in parliament, and under constant scrutiny for its legitimacy.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the hunt for a new Prime Minister begins, Malaysia's king on Tuesday urged rival politicians to unite in the battle against coronavirus. Following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, analysts say the monarch is trying to nudge the country's political parties toward forming a unity government.

As the hunt for a new Prime Minister begins, Malaysia's king on Tuesday urged rival politicians to unite in the battle against coronavirus. Following the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, analysts say the monarch is trying to nudge the country's political parties toward forming a unity government. Also read | Malaysia's prime minister quits, to take up caretaker role As a result of the outbreak, the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has ruled out elections, which means he will likely choose the next premier himself based on who commands the greatest support. However, no party has majority support in parliament, making it impossible to choose a successor to Muhyiddin. Muhyiddin's turbulent 17 months in office finally ended with resignation when he lost his parliamentary majority amid mounting public anger over the way his government handled the worst COVID-19 wave in Malaysia. The long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he and other party leaders met at the palace and the king told them "the country is a facing political and constitutional crisis". "So we should unite to fight the coronavirus and help bolster the economy." "By the look of it, all the parties seem to have come to a consensus -- that is to end 'old politics'... and focus on the development of the country," he added. In addition to some opposition groups supporting Anwar, remnants of Muhyiddin's collapsed government may work together to put together a coalition government, while others have called for a unity government until the outbreak has been controlled. To be a premier, an individual must have the support of at least 111 out of 222 lawmakers in the lower house. In addition to the monarch, the influential deputy king attended the meeting. This indicated agreement among Malaysia's revered Islamic royal families "with regards to the proposal for a unity government", said Oh Ei Sun, an analyst at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. MPs have also been asked to submit the name of their choice for the prime minister to the palace by Wednesday afternoon, and the drama is expected to take several days to play out. There has been disarray in Malaysia's political landscape since the elections in 2018, which saw a scandal-plagued coalition ejected from power after 60 years in power, and replaced by a reformist alliance. However, that alliance collapsed in March last year, and Muhyiddin went on to become prime minister without an election. It was, nevertheless, an unstable government, with a razor-thin majority in parliament, and under constant scrutiny for its legitimacy. (With inputs from agencies)

Malaysia PM hunt: King urges rival politicians to unite, to name leader who has most support

Citing a lack of parliamentary support,&nbsp;Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned on Monday. But the leader agreed with the king to remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed.

The development comes as the country is struggling with its deadliest COVID-19&nbsp;outbreak yet.&nbsp;After holding a special meeting with cabinet members,&nbsp;Yassin offered resignation to the king.

His resignation follows months of political instability, which eventually led to the loss of his majority in parliament.&nbsp;

According to the palace, King Al-Sultan Abdullah did not believe an election should be held due to the coronavirus&nbsp;situation, and he was happy for Muhyiddin to stay on as interim leader.&nbsp;

“The king has received the resignation letter of Muhyiddin Yassin and the entire cabinet effective immediately. Following the resignation, the king is pleased for Muhyiddin to fill the role as caretaker prime minister until a new prime minister is appointed,” it said.&nbsp;

Muhyiddin’s government had been precarious ever since he was sworn in around 18 months ago. He was named PM following a flurry of backroom deals organised after the collapse of the then ruling coalition, but with no public mandate.&nbsp;

In recent weeks his razor-thin parliamentary majority has crumbled, despite attempts to win support from opposition MPs. Muhyiddin is facing growing anger over the coronavirus crisis, which has continued to worsen even after restrictions.&nbsp;

In a televised address,&nbsp;Muhyiddin said he had submitted his resignation to the king because he had failed to maintain the confidence of a majority of lawmakers. He hoped a new government would be formed as soon as possible.

(With inputs from agencies)

Citing a lack of parliamentary support, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned on Monday. But the leader agreed with the king to remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed.

Citing a lack of parliamentary support, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned on Monday. But the leader agreed with the king to remain caretaker premier until a new government is formed. The development comes as the country is struggling with its deadliest COVID-19 outbreak yet. After holding a special meeting with cabinet members, Yassin offered resignation to the king. His resignation follows months of political instability, which eventually led to the loss of his majority in parliament. According to the palace, King Al-Sultan Abdullah did not believe an election should be held due to the coronavirus situation, and he was happy for Muhyiddin to stay on as interim leader. “The king has received the resignation letter of Muhyiddin Yassin and the entire cabinet effective immediately. Following the resignation, the king is pleased for Muhyiddin to fill the role as caretaker prime minister until a new prime minister is appointed,” it said. Muhyiddin’s government had been precarious ever since he was sworn in around 18 months ago. He was named PM following a flurry of backroom deals organised after the collapse of the then ruling coalition, but with no public mandate. In recent weeks his razor-thin parliamentary majority has crumbled, despite attempts to win support from opposition MPs. Muhyiddin is facing growing anger over the coronavirus crisis, which has continued to worsen even after restrictions. In a televised address, Muhyiddin said he had submitted his resignation to the king because he had failed to maintain the confidence of a majority of lawmakers. He hoped a new government would be formed as soon as possible. (With inputs from agencies)

Malaysia's prime minister quits, to take up caretaker role

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab threatened on Saturday to stop performing his duties to pressure politicians to form a new government.&nbsp;

"If seclusion helps with cabinet formation, then I am ready to resort to it, although it goes against my convictions for it disrupts the entire state and is detrimental to the Lebanese," Diab said in a speech.&nbsp;

Diab's cabinet resigned on the back of the August 4 Beirut port explosion that devastated swathes of the capital.&nbsp;

Prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri was nominated in October but has failed to form a new cabinet so far due to political deadlock between him and President Michel Aoun.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and dumpsters across Lebanon recently after the currency tumbled to a new low in a financial meltdown that has fueled poverty.&nbsp;

"We can't bear it anymore...The dollar is going up and they don't care about us. They're still dividing up their gains," Rabih Khaled, who has been unemployed for months, said at one of the protests.&nbsp;

Crushed under a mountain of debt, Lebanon is grappling with a financial crisis that has wiped out jobs, raised warnings of growing hunger and locked people out of their bank deposits.&nbsp;

The collapse of the Lebanese pound, which fell to 10,000 to the dollar on Tuesday, has slashed about 85% of its value in a country relying heavily on imports.&nbsp;

The decline was the last straw for many who have seen prices of consumer goods such as diapers or cereals nearly triple since the crisis erupted.&nbsp;

"They're taking away our dignity. We came down today to say no we have dignity ... We are not insects. They are controlling the dollar for your interests to steal money from the people," 43-year-old Tawfik Marei said.&nbsp;

Protesters shut down a main highway out of the capital Beirut and the airport road. People took to the streets in other cities as well after the cost of scarce dollars hit 10,000 Lebanese pounds on the informal market.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab threatened on Saturday to stop performing his duties to pressure politicians to form a new government. "If seclusion helps with cabinet formation, then I am ready to resort to it, although it goes against my convictions for it disrupts the entire state and is detrimental to the Lebanese," Diab said in a speech.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab threatened on Saturday to stop performing his duties to pressure politicians to form a new government. "If seclusion helps with cabinet formation, then I am ready to resort to it, although it goes against my convictions for it disrupts the entire state and is detrimental to the Lebanese," Diab said in a speech. Diab's cabinet resigned on the back of the August 4 Beirut port explosion that devastated swathes of the capital. Prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri was nominated in October but has failed to form a new cabinet so far due to political deadlock between him and President Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and dumpsters across Lebanon recently after the currency tumbled to a new low in a financial meltdown that has fueled poverty. "We can't bear it anymore...The dollar is going up and they don't care about us. They're still dividing up their gains," Rabih Khaled, who has been unemployed for months, said at one of the protests. Crushed under a mountain of debt, Lebanon is grappling with a financial crisis that has wiped out jobs, raised warnings of growing hunger and locked people out of their bank deposits. The collapse of the Lebanese pound, which fell to 10,000 to the dollar on Tuesday, has slashed about 85% of its value in a country relying heavily on imports. The decline was the last straw for many who have seen prices of consumer goods such as diapers or cereals nearly triple since the crisis erupted. "They're taking away our dignity. We came down today to say no we have dignity ... We are not insects. They are controlling the dollar for your interests to steal money from the people," 43-year-old Tawfik Marei said. Protesters shut down a main highway out of the capital Beirut and the airport road. People took to the streets in other cities as well after the cost of scarce dollars hit 10,000 Lebanese pounds on the informal market. (With inputs from agencies)

Caretaker PM threatens to stop running government in Lebanon 

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