Lebanese security forces re-open all blocked roads

The security forces have succeeded in opening all
the blocked roads across Lebanon, according to an Al Arabiya correspondent.
Clashes and road blocks continued into Thursday
morning in various parts of Lebanon as the protests near their 50th day.
Earlier in the south, demonstrators blocked the main
entrance to Nabatieh’s vehicle registration department and demanded it be shut
down, reported the NNA.
Employees and demonstrators clashed when the
employees refused to disrupt the business and interests of the citizens.
Meanwhile in Sidon, a group of protesters, mostly
school students, marched from Elia Square to public facilities to shut them
down, starting with Electricite du Liban, telecommunications company Ogero as
well as a number of banks, while another group headed to the public market of
Sidon to close the shops. Shop owners re-opened their shops after closing for
two hours at the request of the protesters. Others held demonstrations in front
of the Lebanese University and the LIU in order to interrupt their studies and
encourage the others to join the demonstrations.
There were also major traffic delays in downtown
Beirut due to the Ring Bridge being blocked by demonstrators once again
Thursday morning. It was later opened by anti-riot police. Many clashes have
taken place in this area since the start of the demonstrations, including
clashes when Lebanon's Hezbollah and Amal supporters attacked protesters.
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun called on Wednesday
for binding parliamentary consultations to designate a new prime minister to
take place on Monday.
According to Al Arabiya sources, it is expected that
the protests will continue and possibly escalate due to people objecting the
nomination of Samir Khatib for the prime minister position.
Lebanon has been in political deadlock since Saad
Hariri resigned as prime minister in late October.