Strike is the solution .. Lebanese economic bodies call for pressure to end the crisis

Lebanon's economic bodies, which represent most of the country's private sector, have called for a three-day general strike to pressure divided politicians to form a government and end a crisis that has pushed the economy to a standstill.

The Lebanese economic bodies, which include most of the industry and bankers in the private sector, they "unanimously decided to call for the implementation of the general strike and the complete closure of all private institutions on the territory of the country on Thursday, Friday and Saturday."

"It has become clear that political forces have not assumed their national responsibilities and have not shown the seriousness necessary to produce solutions to the current crisis," it said in a statement.

"Its escalation will not subside until the required government is formed," she said without elaborating.

The economic communique came hours after clashes erupted on a highway in Beirut between supporters of Shi'ite Hezbollah and Amal and anti-government protesters.

Forming a government
There have been protests in Lebanon for five weeks, fueled by anger over the spread of corruption among politicians, and the demonstrators want to remove the entire ruling class from power.

Despite unprecedented nationwide protests that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri on October 29 and the worsening economic situation, divided politicians have not agreed strongly on forming a new government.

In this context, the President of the Security Council Karen Pierce said that the Council stresses the importance of forming a new government in Lebanon without delay.

This came after a closed-door session of the Council on the situation in Lebanon, in which members called for an intensive national dialogue among all actors, to maintain the peaceful nature of the protests and avoid violence.

Pierce added that the council members praised the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces and other security institutions in protecting the right to peaceful assembly and protest.

The Lebanese army and security forces forcibly opened roads blocked by demonstrators on Monday morning after hundreds of youths of Hezbollah guerrillas attacked demonstrators in Beirut using stones and vandalism.