Civil society activists on Sunday staged a new demonstration in central Beirut to protest the country’s dire economic situations.

The demo started at Martyrs Square before moving to the nearby Riad al-Solh Square where the government’s headquarters is located.

Lebanese officials hailed on Saturday a court verdict indicting the accused in the 1999 assassination of four judges in the southern city of Sidon.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri is scheduled to start a two-day visit on Sunday to the UAE where he is set to meet Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Saturday.

Hariri is also set to participate in the UAE-Lebanon Investment Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi on Monday in the presence of Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, and a number of ministers and state officials.

In light of a worsening economic situation grappling Lebanon, Prime Minister Saad Hariri seeks to “overcome” the obstacles with “hard work” without any intention to step back, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil held talks Friday at the Center House, following tensions between their two parties.

Describing the meeting with Bassil as “very good,” Hariri told reporters that his relation with the FPM chief remained intact despite the tensions between the FPM and al-Mustaqbal Movement.

The syndicate of fuel distributors and owners of fuel stations and tankers on Friday decided to stage a strike on Monday “unless the ongoing contacts result in solutions that satisfy those who work in the sector,” in connection with the dollar rationing crisis in the country.

The syndicate of money changers for its part threatened that the entire sector might stage an open-ended strike or close shops permanently if the “unjust accusations” against it continue, stressing that its work is “legal.”

Telecommunications Minister Mohammed Choucair announced Friday that he will not meet with Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim for a testimony over suspected wrongdoing in the telecom sector.

“I will not appear at the office of the financial prosecutor, neither for coffee nor for tea, and if he wants to meet I’m ready to host him at my house or office,” Choucair told reporters.

The President’s remarks about restoring contacts between Lebanon and Syria was reportedly the trigger for the economic crisis in Lebanon and for straining ties between President Michel Aoun and PM Saad Hariri, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Friday.

A crisis cell composed of diplomats has reportedly been formed two week ago to follow closely on the developments in Lebanon, mainly its worsening economic crisis following fears of a dollar shortage and possible currency devaluation, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel on Thursday called on the government to step down while urging the formation of a “cabinet of experts” that enjoys the confidence of the Lebanese and the world.

“The government is not doing anything other than trading blame, instead of solidarity and convening night and day to rescue the country,” Gemayel said at press conference.