Lebanon’s anti-government protesters started rallying and blocking key roads across the country shortly before a new government was due to be formed.

The protesters were gathering near parliament in downtown Beirut and outside the residence of MP Faisal Karami in Tripoli.

Six weeks after the enlarged meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon in Paris on December 11, the ISG met Tuesday in Beirut at the ambassadorial level.

The Strong Lebanon bloc announced Tuesday that the new government will be formed “despite all the difficulties we are hearing about.”

“Blocking its formation chokes the Lebanese and the country,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc’s weekly meeting.

The new cabinet will be formed Tuesday evening and Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab will shortly head to the Baabda Palace after which the government's line-up will be announced, TV networks reported, quoting Baabda sources.

Speaker Nabih Berri is also preparing to head to the Baabda Palace, media reports said.

A decision will be taken Tuesday or Wednesday to form a “de facto 18-minister cabinet” should the ongoing efforts to reach consensus fail, LBCI TV said.

“A proposal for a government solution has been blocked by (Prime Minister-designate Hassan) Diab’s refusal to give up the labor portfolio to (Marada Movement chief Suleiman) Franjieh and (Speaker Nabih) Berri’s reluctance to give an answer on whether or not he is willing to give up the culture portfolio,” LBCI added.

Since January 14, 2020, Lebanon witnessed “a worrying wave of attacks against journalists and photographers covering protests in Beirut,” leading international and Lebanese press freedom groups said on Tuesday.

Amnesty International decried on Tuesday the use of force against protesters following rare violence over the weekend that left hundreds wounded.

A Parliament session set to discuss and endorse the draft 2020 state budget was postponed until next week, the National News Agency said on Tuesday.

Marada Movement chief Sleiman Franjieh on Tuesday said his participation in the government is not decided yet, and accused Free Patriotic Movement chief of obstructing a much-delayed cabinet formation because of his “greediness” and intentions to get one-third veto power.

“Marada Movement has not decided yet on leaving or joining the government, but I will not impede the formation,” said Franjieh in a press conference.

A U.S. report on the situation in crisis-hit Lebanon reportedly describes the situation as “discouraging” and blames the political authority for economic deterioration after “ignoring” for years all advice delivered by the World Bank, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.