Protests erupt in Lebanon over fuel, tax increases

BEIRUT, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people took to the streets in Beirut on Tuesday to protest against a rise in fuel prices and value-added tax (VAT) approved by the government to help finance public sector wage hikes.

On Monday, the Lebanese cabinet approved raising the price of 20 liters of gasoline by 300,000 Lebanese pounds (about 3.35 U.S. dollars), increasing VAT from 11 to 12 percent, and a salary in