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President's son-in-law dodges Beirut's legendary traffic in military helicopter

Forget Uber: Lebanon's foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, managed to dodge the traffic on Thursday by getting a lift by a military helicopter for a private visit.
1 min read
10 Feb, 2017
The images circulated on social media, sparking fury [Facebook]
For plenty in Lebanon, the congestion of traffic poses a daily problem that has long plagued the country.

Despite a number of transport projects initiated, the Lebanese government has not been able to effectively fix the problem.

But it appears that Lebanon's foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, managed to dodge the traffic on Thursday by getting a lift in a military helicopter.

Bassil, who is the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement [FPM] and son-in-law to President Michel Aoun, was captured getting a helicopter ride alongside FPM MP Ibrahim Kanaan and other FPM politicians close to the president.

The men were heading to the funeral of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's mother, in a private capacity, according to local media reports.

The images sparked fury and many took to social media to voice their anger over the alleged misuse of state transport.

"A military helicopter is now Bassil's free private taxi service?," one Facebook user .

"Lucky he who owns a helicopter in this country...no more traffic jams!", another user .

[Translation: The Free Patriotic Movement delegation arrives at the funeral of Samir Geagea's mother on helicopter]

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