Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday called for the formation of a new government that would gain “the confidence of people, parliament and the international community,” stressing that the FPM is not seeking ministerial seats or a one-third veto power in Cabinet.

“We were supposed to declare an advanced stance today but today's developments have pushed us to further shoulder our responsibility,” Bassil said after the weekly meeting of the Strong Lebanon bloc, referring to the renewal of massive street protests across the country.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called on President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab to liberate themselves of “the pressures of politics and parties” as to the formation of the new government.

“The return to bickering over jurisdiction and the required standards for the formation of the government represents the peak of disregard for the economic and financial threats facing the country,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday called for the formation of a new government, in his first remarks since returning to Lebanon from a lengthy vacation abroad.

“I have not ceased to act in caretaker capacity and if they want more than that we will do it, but what’s important is the formation of a government,” Hariri told reporters at the Center House after he presided over a meeting for the al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc.

President Michel Aoun on Tuesday said that the formation of the new government requires choosing “competent individuals who deserve the confidence of people and parliament.”

“The government should have been formed last week, but some obstacles have prevented that,” Aoun said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri presided over a meeting for al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after he returned to Lebanon from a vacation abroad that involved offering condolences in Oman over Sultan Qaboos’ death.

A statement issued by Hariri’s office said the meeting was tackling “the latest developments and the general situations.”

Lebanese protesters resumed blocking major highways on Tuesday in what they said would be a "week of wrath" demanding an end to a nearly three-month political vacuum.

Samer al-Khoury, a 29-year-old protester, said the protesters were giving the politicians 48 hours to form a new government.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Tuesday paid Speaker Nabih Berri a “surprise” visit in Ain el-Tineh.

The Banking Control Committee on Tuesday requested that local banks provide them with information on the volume of transfers to “Swiss banks,” amid suspicious large transfers of money abroad.

Lebanese activists express resentment at what they say is “fading media coverage” of their movements in the past few weeks, after the outbreak of mass protests on October 17 where TV live coverage largely helped its success and continuity, Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Tuesday.

Hundreds of angry Lebanese protested across the country on Tuesday in renewed rallies against the ruling elite they say has failed to address the economy's downward spiral.

Protesters blocked several roads and major highways starting ealry with the morning rush hour in the capital Beirut, the northern city of Tripoli, the southern city of Nabatieh and Mount Lebanon, they also denounced a class of political leaders they deem incompetent and corrupt.