Protesters staged a sit-in in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice and closed its entrances to demand that those who call them corrupt be held accountable and to recover the looted funds.The banks and schools closed today amid calls for a general strike today to demand the speedy formation of a new government.

Demonstrators in the capital Beirut tried to prevent employees from entering public institutions in response to a general strike called in their popular movement, and to protest the procrastination of the authorities, which have not acted since the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri two weeks ago.

Lebanon has witnessed unprecedented demonstrations since October 17 in which hundreds of thousands of Lebanese resentment on the political class and the spread of corruption and poor public services and infrastructure.

Protesters sought to close down the Justice Ministry in the capital to demand responsibility for fighting corruption and holding accountable spoilers. Protests were also recorded in front of other government offices and Ogero offices in several cities, and dozens of students demonstrated in front of the Ministry of Education.

Lebanese Education Minister Akram Chehayeb said the decision to close schools today was made yesterday because of calls for a wider strike and respect for the right of students to express their opinion.

Protesters protest after blockade in northern Tripoli (Reuters)

Cutting methods
Protesters blocked a number of roads in the northern and Bekaa governorates, amid a strike by some sectors. North of Tripoli.

In Tire, south Lebanon, Aley (east of Beirut), and Baalbek (east), protesters closed the offices of the telecommunications company.

On the other hand, Reuters quoted a union leader that the branches of Lebanese banks were closed again due to concerns about the safety of workers who fear customers demanding the withdrawal of their money and protesters gathered at the banks.

The banking institutions closed for two weeks last month after the outbreak of protests, rejecting the ruling political class and condemning the spread of corruption and the deterioration of the living situation.

Sink mode
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon is seeking to meet with the Association of Banks in Lebanon to decide on how to work together to resolve the issue, so that bank staff are not harassed, its president said on Monday.

The governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Riad Salameh said on Monday that bank deposits are secured, and that the central bank has the ability to maintain the stability of the Lebanese pound pegged to the dollar.

On the political front, the situation remains uncertain two weeks after the resignation of the prime minister under the pressure of the street, President Michel Aoun did not set a date for the start of the binding parliamentary consultations to form a new government, angering demonstrators who question the seriousness of the authorities towards them.

Calls are underway to agree on the formula of the next government, which demands the majority of demonstrators to include new faces of specialists and independents of the parties of power.President Aoun is scheduled to address this evening to the Lebanese in a television talk about the current developments.

UN call
Jan Kubish, the UN special coordinator in Lebanon, called for the formation of a new government quickly with well-known personalities, adding that such a government would be in a better position to seek international assistance.

"The financial and economic situation is critical, and the government and other authorities cannot wait any longer to address it," Kubish said in a statement after meeting the Lebanese president.