Demonstrators gathered in front of the Banque du Liban in Beirut yesterday to protest against the economic situation and to pressure the state to prevent the financial collapse.

In detail, the National News Agency reported that demonstrators gathered in front of the entrance of the Banque du Liban in Beirut as part of moves involving a number of official institutions and vital sectors in the country. They criticized the role of the bank's governor, Riad Salameh, in the crisis.

The number of participants in the sit-in protest at the square of science in Tire, after the arrival of a number of them from outside the city, where the voices calling for «accountability all», and «the continuation of the revolution until the realization of demands», and participants carried Lebanese flags and banners read: «If you love The revolution clique », which received a response by passing cars that unleashed their horns.

A demonstration was launched in front of the Palace of Justice towards Riad El Solh Square, at the invitation of a gathering of professionals and professionals, entitled: “The judiciary for all people is not for the riyas”. The hand of political power from interference in the judiciary », and demanded the adoption of legislation to ensure the independence of the judiciary, and the consolidation of the principle of separation of powers, and to hold the corrupt, and broadcast news related to corruption.

The students of Sidon schools and the contracting professors held a sit-in in the roundabout of Elia roundabout from the morning until yesterday afternoon. The army then opened the four directions of Elijah, after two of them were cut off.

In addition, several gas stations closed in Lebanon yesterday with the expiry of their stocks and the difficulty of buying from importers in the US dollar, amid a tense economic situation, and continued popular movements against the political class.

This came as Lebanese banks tightened measures to limit the sale of the dollar, within a week, which opened its doors after a two-week hiatus to the ongoing popular protests in the country since last October.

Several stations in Beirut are closed after the end of their gasoline stocks, while others are still operating until their stocks are over, said the head of the owners' union, Sami Al-Baraks: "The stations that still have stocks have been opened and will close as soon as they are finished." Another closed its stock basically, we asked to pay 100% in Lebanese pounds, and if officials and the central bank did not find a solution until next Tuesday, we will have to stop the import of oil derivatives and close all stations and sit in our homes ».

The gas station crisis began last September, with owners complaining about the difficulty of getting the dollar to pay their bills to importers. Consumers pay gasoline owners in Lebanon in Lebanese pounds, but the latter have to pay in dollars to importers and distributors.

After carrying out strikes, the central bank issued a circular, to facilitate access to the dollar to cover 15% of the needs of importers in dollars, while the remaining amount is paid in Lebanese pounds.

After closing two weeks, banks opened their doors again this month, but they imposed more tight measures on the sale of the dollar, which has become very difficult, and the owners of the fuel returned to face the same crisis, and they are again forced to buy the dollar from the parallel market, according to Brax.

Although the official exchange rate of the Lebanese pound against the dollar is still 1507, in the parallel market it ranges between 1650 and 1800 pounds, and Lebanese citizens traded several videos during the last week, showing them quarreling with bank employees to not allow them to withdraw what they want in dollars, Or banks do not accept to pay their loan dues in Lebanese pounds.

"If a government is not formed soon, the situation in the country will get worse," a banking source said.

The mufti calls to meet the demands

Lebanon's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdullatif Darian, called on the country's officials to heed the protesters' demands to end corruption and sectarianism.

The mufti, in a speech broadcast on Lebanese television, on the occasion of the birth of the Prophet, yesterday: «It is time, and the opportunity is appropriate, after this national vigilance, to begin the process of reform, and go to the first to form a government of rescue without delay and delay, and the formation of a government of owners Competence and competence ».

Reuters