Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Beirut home of Lebanon ’ s new prime minister on Saturday , calling for Hassan Diab ’ s resignation less than 10 days after he was appointed .

Lebanon is without a cabinet and in the grips of a deepening economic crisis after a two -month -old protest movement forced Saad Hariri to stand down as prime minister on October 29.

Anti -government protests continued after Hariri ’ s resignation, while political parties negotiated for weeks before nominating Diab , a professor and former education minister , to replace him on December 19.

Echoing protester demands , Diab promised to form a government of independent experts within six weeks — in a country where appointing a cabinet can take months.

But protesters on Saturday were unconvinced by his promise.
“ We ’ re here to bring down Hassan Diab . He doesn ’ t represent us . He ’ s one of them , ” said one young demonstrator , referring to the country ’ s ruling elite, who protesters despise collectively.

Lina , another protester agreed , saying : “ It ’ s the revolution that must name the prime minister , not them . ”

The 60-year -old Diab , who has a low public profile and styles himself as a technocrat, last week called protester demands legitimate but asked them to give him a chance to form “ an exceptional government ” .

“ We are willing to give him a chance , but let us at least give him a roadmap , ” Lina told AFP .

“ The names don ’ t matter to us , we want policy plans , what is his programme ?” she asked .

Protesters decry Diab ’ s participation as a minister in a government deemed corrupt.

The support given to him by powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah also angers many protesters and pro – Hariri Sunnis .
Protesters also gathered in the northern Sunni majority city of Tripoli on Saturday , an AFP photographer said .

The protests and political deadlock have brought Lebanon to its worst economic crisis since the 1975 -1990 civil war .
The international community has urged a new cabinet to be formed swiftly to implement economic reforms and unlock international aid .

Source:- Punchng.

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