Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel on Monday called for the formation of a “neutral government of experts.”

“Only an instant resignation of the government and the formation of a neutral government of experts can restore the confidence of people and the international community in the state,” Gemayel tweeted, saying the move would “rescue the economic and monetary situations.”

Unknown assailants on Monday opened fire from an assault rifle at a protest tent in the western Bekaa town of Ghazze, the National News Agency said.

“The gunshots hit the water tank that supplies the town, which sparked panic among those present in the region,” NNA said.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on Monday denied telling CNN that Lebanon’s economy will collapse in a matter of days if the protests continue while noting that a “solution” to the crisis is needed within days in order to restore confidence and avoid a collapse.

Salameh noted that a CNN headline did not accurately reflect what he said in an interview with the TV network.

A delegation from the Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc held talks Monday in Ain el-Tineh with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to “discuss the current extraordinary issues from the angle of parliament’s work,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan said.

“A lot is being said in this period about combating corruption, but combating corruption, accountability, the recovery of looted funds and the lifting of immunities are all draft laws presented by our bloc and other blocs, and I believe that the time has come,” Kanaan said.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon on Monday announced that banks will remain closed on Tuesday, while reassuring that the salaries of public sector employees and the armed forces will be paid on time.

“Despite the difficult situations and the blocking of roads, banks are keen on securing the salaries of public sector employees, especially the officers and personnel of the army and security forces, who represent the guarantee of the country and the citizens and enjoy the respect and appreciation of everyone,” ABL said in a statement issued after an extraordinary meeting for its board of directors.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday presided at the Center House over a ministerial meeting aimed at studying a general amnesty draft law.

“The meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with studying the general amnesty draft law was attended by the ministers Raya al-Hassan, Albert Serhan, Wael Abu Faour, Mohammed Fneish, Elias Bou Saab, Salim Jreissati, Youssef Fenianos and Hassan al-Laqqis,” Hariri’s office said.

On a main thoroughfare in Beirut on Monday, Lebanese protesters set up a living room with an area rug, a couch and a refrigerator. On another, they held a morning yoga class. And on a third road, a band with an accordion player sang one of the newest slogans of Lebanon's anti-government protests.

"Hela, hela, hela ho, the road is closed, sweetie," the song went — a reflection of how the protesters have grown more creative as they have blocked roads as part of massive anti-government demonstrations underway for the last 12 days.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday refuted claims published in Hizbullah’s al-Akhbar daily that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are allegedly funding media coverage of the protests in Lebanon.

Minister of Social Affairs Richard Kouyoumjian said he was surprised that the political class continues to ignore the rightful demands of protesters.

Anti-government demonstrators set up barricades and parked cars across key roads Monday to protest corruption and press their demands for a radical overhaul of the country's sectarian political system.

Defying pleas from Lebanon's top leaders, protesters sought to keep the country on lockdown for a 12th consecutive day by cutting off some of the main thoroughfares, including the main north-south highway.