Lebanon: street sit-ins and political consultations to resolve the crisis

Lebanese protesters continue their sit-ins Friday morning in front of government institutions, causing them to close, after a day of mass protests, while caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun are holding consultations amid calls for a radical solution to the crisis.

Protesters protested in front of one of the entrances to the port of Beirut and closed it, denouncing what they described as corruption and waste in the port, and called for stopping tax evasion at all land and sea crossings.

A number of protesters also gathered in front of the Social Security Institution in Jounieh, Mount Lebanon, while others gathered in front of the Traffic Management Authority in the eastern suburb of Beirut.

A number of school students in different areas protested against the economic and social conditions in the country, after Beirut and many other cities witnessed yesterday demonstrations by university and school students.

Consultations
At the Baabda Palace in Beirut, Hariri met Aoun, and Hariri said in a brief speech after the meeting that he came to talk with the President and will continue consultations with the rest of the parties, without giving any details about what took place between them.

Earlier, Aoun justified the delay in parliamentary consultations, on the basis of which a new prime minister is being commissioned, with his desire to complete what he called "the necessary contacts", as he has not yet set a date for the start of the consultations.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he was determined to name Saad Hariri as prime minister. Hariri resigned on October 29 following protests.

Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general, warned of what he called the thieves of the popular movement, considering them to be from the US Embassy and some sectarian parties who want to take the movement elsewhere.

The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, said that resolving the current crisis in Lebanon requires a government of independents and non-partisans.

Progressive Socialist Party Chairman Walid Jumblatt said in a tweet on Twitter that in the midst of violating the constitution and at the height of socio-economic risks and the height of mobility, politicians are consulting on how to improve and beautify the previous compromise that has ravaged the country.

Protesters insist on the departure of the ruling class, and pressure by blocking roads and besieging government institutions to implement their demands, including speeding up the process of forming a government of mini-technocrats, early parliamentary elections, holding all corrupt in power, and lifting the secrecy of politicians' bank accounts.