Clashes erupted Tuesday evening between protesters and security forces outside the central bank on Beirut’s Hamra Street.

The National News Agency said the confrontation started after some protesters tried to bring down a security barrier protecting the bank’s premises.

The formation of the new government might be imminent after a row over the foreign affairs portfolio was resolved, a media report said.

MTV said Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab “accepted to give the foreign affairs portfolio to Nassif Hitti and the economy portfolio to Demianos Qattar.”

"Rebel, Beirut," hundreds of protesters chanted as they marched to the sound of drums towards the home of Premier-designate Hassan Diab on Tuesday, as demonstrators blocked roads across the country in what they dubbed the beginning of a “week of wrath”.

Diab has struggled to form a cabinet since he was named on December 19, amid continued bickering among political parties.

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.