BEIRUT, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army failed Saturday to open roads blocked by protesters for the past ten days as Lebanese citizens insist on continuing their demonstrations until authorities meet their full demands, the National News Agency reported.
Protesters continued to block roads in several areas of the country, prompting the Lebanese army to clash with some of them while firing shots in Beddawi, wounding several people in the northern town of Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Army Chief Joseph Aoun met with representatives from different security agencies to discuss the measures that should be taken to facilitate the movement of people across the country while protecting demonstrators all over Lebanon.
The Lebanese have been protesting for the past ten days against the government and the political class, calling for the change of the whole system in addition to holding corrupt officials responsible for their past malpractices.
This has prompted Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to declare earlier this week an economic plan which includes a number of reform measures to be taken by the government in an attempt to reduce people's anger.
The economic paper was supported by President Michel Aoun but it did not satisfy the protesters who vowed to stay in the streets until they see a mass resignation of the president, parliament members, and ministers.
Media reports circulated in the pasts two days about ongoing discussions between Aoun and Hariri who met on Friday at Baabda Palace to agree on a new smaller government, which would send positive signals to protesters about the political class' seriousness in implementing a serious change in the country.
However, Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced Friday that he refuses any change in the government, which, in his opinion, would lead to increased chaos and further deterioration in the economic situation.
Instead, Nasrallah suggested a discussion to be held between a representative of protesters and the president to agree on people's demands and reach a solution that would end the paralysis in the country without creating a political vacuum.
Also, Nasrallah said he supports the formulation of a law that would fight corruption and recuperate stolen public funds.
Hence, in a first step, officials belonging to the Free Patriotic Movement announced on Saturday that they will be removing banking secrecy on their account as of Monday.
The protests which started ten days ago caused schools, banks and different public administrations to shut down with people reporting difficulties in reaching their jobs and business voicing concerns about their losses in the past days.
