SCC Protesters Quarrel with Head of Vehicle Registration Authority

Syndicate Coordination Committee protesters squabbled on Wednesday with head of the vehicle registration authority in Dekwaneh after he prevented them from entering its premises.

Head of the authority, Colonel George Lattouf, banned the protesters from entering the premises causing anger among their ranks, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The SCC's open-ended strike entered its fifth week as the government is at deadlocked on finding ways to fund the salary scale that it approved last year. But the SCC is demanding a swift decision and referral of the bill to -approved by the government last year -to parliament for vote.

The cabinet is expected discuss the issue during its session on Thursday at the Baabda Palace.

Head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib warned during Wednesday's protest the government from failing yet again to refer the new salary scale.

He vowed to head to more escalations.

“Our strike has cost the state more than it would've paid for the new wage scale... They (officials) are responsible,” Gharib added.

On Tuesday, Gharib mobilized the Lebanese people for a historic protest against the government on Thursday, saying the demonstration will be aimed at confronting strife and sectarian divisions.

Rafik Hariri International Airport announced that it will halt flights for four hours on Thursday in solidarity with the SCC.

Thirteen scheduled arriving and departing flights will be affected by the strike.

The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, has vowed to hold daily protests near government institutions to pressure the government.