A nationwide general strike has been called across Lebanon for Monday as protests, demanding an end to economic woes and perceived government corruption, are set to continue for a fifth day.
Protests have grown steadily across the country since people took to the streets on Thursday in response to a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls and other messaging services.
The call for a strike has come despite pledges of reforms by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the resignation of government ministers on Sunday.
Banks to stay closed on Tuesday
Banks in Lebanon will remain closed on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Lebanese banking association, circulated on the National News Agency.
The statement said the association was waiting for calm to be restored.
Bank closed due to protest
On Monday, banks, schools and local businesses were shuttered as protests entered their fifth day.
Protests continue after reforms announced
Protesters gathered in the main Martyr's Square and throughout Beirut listened to Prime Minister Hariri's announcement on loud speakers.
"Revolution, revolution," chanted many of those gathered when he finished, according to the AFP news agency.
"We want the fall of the regime," they continued.
Maya Mhana, a teacher, listened to the speech in central Beirut with other protesters.
"We are remaining in the streets, we don't believe a single word he said," Mhana told the Associated Press news agency.
Protesters say reforms are not enough
The raft of reforms announced by Prime Minister Hariri did not go far enough for some protesters on Monday.
They also call for:
The resignation of the government, who they accuse of widespread corruption.
Handing over power to a council of non-political judges until elections can be held.
Cabinet approves reforms following five days of protests, Lebanon approved reforms and the 2020 budget following five days of protests, Prime Minister Hariri announced on Monday.
The reforms and budget include:
• Cutting the salaries of some current and former presidents, ministers, and lawmakers in half.
• Abolishing several state institutions, including the Ministry of Information.
Passing a law to establish an anti-corruption committee by the end of the year.
• Drafting a law that seeks to restore stolen public funds.
• Appointing regulatory bodies for the power sector, telecommunications, and civil aviation "as soon as possible".
• Creating no new taxes in 2020 budget.
Slashing the budget of the agency in charge of development and construction by 70 percent, along with cutting the budget of other state bodies.
• Reducing by $663mn the deficit in the power sector, which bleeds state funds while failing to meet the country's needs.
• Speeding up the process of awarding contracts for the construction of new power plants.
• Planning to approve, within three weeks, the first phase of a capital investment programme that donors have pledged to finance with $11 billion, on condition of reforms
• Moving to privatise telecommunications.
Setting up scanners at border crossings to combat smuggling and toughening punishments for smugglers.
• Approving social security benefits for seniors by the end of the year.
Providing an additional $13.3mn to a program that supports poor families.
Providing $160 million to back housing loans.
• Increasing tax on bank profits, as part of a plan of having banks aid in a deficit reduction of about $3.4bn.
• Launching investment projects for the northern and southern entrances of the capital Beirut.
• The government had convened on Monday for about five hours to approve the reform package.
Most of the reforms had been agreed to early in the day, but a debate over issues relating reform in the power sector delayed the announcement.
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