Lebanon .. Protests, road blockages and consultations to form the government

Lebanese protesters closed a number of roads in the capital, Beirut, and the North and Bekaa governorates, to protest the delay in forming the new government and condemn the deteriorating economic conditions.

The demonstrators closed the Ring Bridge road linking the two parts of the capital, in conjunction with blocking the traffic towards the Hamra area, west of Beirut.

They also closed the road linking Beirut and the southern governorate to the Jiyyeh region, and youths burned tires in the Zouk area, north of the capital.

North of the country, protesters blocked a number of main roads in Halba and Al-Nour Square in Tripoli, amid chants condemning the ruling political class.

As for the Bekaa governorate in the east, protesters cut the road to the Talbiyah area, and Zahleh round about with burning tires.

On Thursday evening, calls spread on social media calling for civil disobedience, in light of the failure to form a government.

Meanwhile, political consultations continue between the Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab and representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement, Hezbollah and Amal, to reach a final formula for the new government.

These consultations come after the meeting that brought Diab together with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri yesterday to put the final touches on the government formation.

The finance minister of the caretaker government, Ali Hassan Khalil, said that the new government will consist of 18 specialized ministers.

Since October 17, 2019, Lebanon has witnessed popular protests that forced the Saad Hariri government to resign, on the 29th of the same month.