Lebanese leaders are discussing a possible government reshuffle,sources said on Wednesday, to defuse unprecedented protests against thepolitical elite that have paralysed the country for a week.
Lebanon's highest Christian Maronite authority and a prominentDruze politician threw their weight behind the groundswell for change, callingfor qualified technocrats to be included in any government shake-up.
With a population of 6 million people including around 1 millionSyrian refugees, Lebanon has been swept by protests against politicians blamedfor corruption and waste in a state mired in debt and economic crisis.
Flag-waving protesters kept roads blocked with vehicles andmakeshift barricades for a seventh day on Wednesday. Banks have been closedsince Friday and will remain shut on Thursday, the banking association said.Schools are also closed.
Soldiers scuffled with demonstrators as they struggled tounblock main roads.
"We're staying in the streets until the looted public fundsare restored, until the government falls," said Heba Haidar, protesting ata makeshift barricade of empty trash containers and steel rods in Beirut.
Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government announced anemergency reform package on Monday, to try to assuage public anger and steerthe state away from a looming financial crisis.
Hariri's government, which took office at the start of the year,groups nearly all of the main parties in a sectarian power-sharing system.
The idea of a reshuffle "is being discussed widely amongpoliticians in the country and we might get there if the protests remain in thestreet in the coming days", a senior political source said. Another politicalsource said the idea was "starting to mature". "The street isimposing its rhythm on the political class," he added.
