BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on Thursday for the formation of a new government of "competent and experienced" ministers as the country's unprecedented popular movement entered its third week as protesters insisted on a government of independents and experts outside traditional parties.
Aoun said in a televised speech on the third anniversary of his assumption of the presidency «must be selected ministers and women ministers according to competence and experience, and not according to political loyalties and appease leaders.
He added that «Lebanon is at a dangerous juncture, especially in economic terms and is in dire need of a harmonious government capable of production is not hampered by political conflicts and rivalries and supported by its people».
Aoun pointed out that the demonstrators «managed to communicate their voice calling for the fight against corruption and the establishment of a modern civil state, where sectarianism and quotas are no longer».
Aoun pledged to exert all efforts to "establish a modern civil state and get rid of the clutches of sectarianism."
He said: «My faith remains the need to move from the prevailing sectarian system to the modern civil state, where the first belonging to the homeland and not to the leaders of the communities».
He also pledged to press ahead with the adoption of a unified personal status law, noting that Lebanon is "in the midst of an articulated crisis, but getting out of it is not impossible."
After Aoun's speech, dozens of demonstrators in downtown Beirut shouted "All means all" in reference to all the ruling political class.
They went to Aoun by saying, "Go, I mean go, your covenant caused hunger" and "the people want to overthrow the regime."
After a relatively quiet day, with the exception of some attempted banditry, thousands of demonstrators swept the streets again in several areas from Beirut to Tripoli in the north.