Lebanon opposition to escalate anti-govt protests

BEIRUT, Jan 8 (Reuters) Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition today threw its weight behind the main labour union's call for a sit-in tomorrow and said the move was the first of daily steps in its campaign to topple the government.

The opposition's announcement puts the Western-backed government under pressure to yield to demands of giving it a decisive say in a national unity government or call early elections.

''The opposition ... adopts the call to protest in front of the VAT office tomorrow tomorrow at 11 am (0900 GMT) and calls on all Lebanese to participate in it,'' said a statement from the opposition read by former minister Talal Arsalan.

''The opposition has also decided to escalate its popular movements and turn tomorrow's protest into a daily escalation that extends to all the ministries and public facilities to achieve all its demands.'' On Saturday, the Lebanese Confederation of Trade Unions called on Lebanese to join a sit-in on Tuesday outside a Finance Ministry office in Beirut to protest against Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's economic reform programme.

''Every day there will be something new ... We will not exempt any ministry or any facility after today,'' Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said after the opposition meeting at his residence.

Last week, the government unveiled economic reforms to be presented to an international donors' conference in Paris this month which Beirut hopes will bring financial help to an economy reeling from the July-August war with Israel. The reform plan included tax reforms, as well as raising VAT rates.

The reforms, which aim to boost economic growth and ease the burden of Lebanon's massive public debt, will be presented at the January 25 ''Paris 3'' conference.

Protesters have camped outside Siniora's offices in central Beirut since December 1 to try to force him to cede veto power to the opposition in a unity government or call an election.

Siniora, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, has resisted the demands. The impasse has hurt Lebanon's recovery from the war with Israel.

Reuters AB GC1928