Saad Hariri rules himself out as next Lebanese prime minister

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday again ruled himself out as Lebanon’s next head of government, as the month-long protest movement faced threats of violence.

Mr Hariri resigned on October 29 during nationwide protests against Lebanon's ruling elite.

His decision ended a coalition government including the powerful, Iran-backed Hezbollah, which opposed his decision.

Lebanon's main parties have since been locked in talks and unable to agree on a new government despite the worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

"I am sticking by the rule 'not me, rather someone else', to form a government that addresses the aspirations of the young men and women," Mr Hariri said.

"I have full hope and confidence, after announcing this clear and decisive decision, that the president of the republic will immediately call the binding parliamentary consultations" to decide on a new prime minister.

Mr Hariri warned his former colleagues that “denial by political leadership is more dangerous than Lebanon's political and economic crisis".

President Michel Aoun has reportedly finally scheduled talks with political parties at Baabda Palace for Thursday, to begin consultations on a prime minister to form the next government.

But with no names put forward who could calm anger on the streets and appease political parties, it is unclear if there will be a development that can avert the impending financial collapse.

Throwing further doubt on the possible outcome of the talks, reports in Lebanese media said that Speaker Nabih Berri, leader of the Amal Movement, was no longer set on Mr Hariri’s return.

Mr Berri told told visitors that he supported no one in particular and that his priority was to find someone who would protect the country.

Over Monday night, hundreds of Hezbollah and allied Amal Movement supporters took to the streets in mass convoys waving the parties’ flags.

Men shot into the air and one man fired a rocket-propelled grenade into the sky.

The sudden development was reportedly sparked by the deaths of two people when their car hit metal barriers being used to block roads near Beirut.

Hussein and Jundi Chalhoub were killed when their car hit the debris, spun out of control, hit a concrete barrier and caught fire.

In Downtown Beirut, some protesters who have been camped out in the capital since October 17 fled but others arrived with steel bars and bats to defend themselves.

Until now the protest movement has been largely peaceful, so the latest developments have caused concerns.

The UN Security Council on Monday called on "all actors to conduct intensive national dialogue and maintain the peaceful character of the protests by avoiding violence and respecting the right to peaceful assembly in protest".

But on Tuesday, the Internal Security Forces intervened near the Presidential Palace to break up scuffles between supporters of Mr Aoun and protesters.

More business groups and unions have backed a general strike, threatening to increase the protests' pressure on officials.

The Lebanese Economic Bodies group, which includes industrialists and bankers, called for the closure of private institutions from Thursday to Saturday to push major parties to form a new government and avert further economic damage.

"The political forces have not assumed their national responsibilities and have not shown the seriousness necessary to produce solutions to the current crisis," the group said.

The Order of Nurses also threatened an open-ended strike, saying its members had not been paid and were overworked.

Their demands echoed the main issues for many protesters – poor government services and underfunding by the state.