Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered outside the central bank in Hamra on Thursday evening and then marched in a procession through Beirut to the parliament building in the city’s center, where they called for an independent and immediate government.

The protesters then joined others who had blocked the Ring flyover, one of the main highways in Beirut.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday blasted MP Jamil al-Sayyed after the lawmaker accused him of protecting Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh for private financial interests.

“To Jamil al-Sayyed, the genius in economy, assassination, lying, fraud and deceit, the best thing for you is to shut up after you stole, looted and imported explosives with your friend (Michel Samaha). Don’t utter a single word,” Hariri tweeted.

Efforts to form a new government suffered a new setback Thursday evening, after optimism surged in the wake of a meeting between Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab.

“It seems that the government formation process has been put on hold and Marada Movement sources have said that it turned out that there are eight ministers who are loyal to (Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran) Bassil,” MTV reported.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday warned the upcoming government against sacking Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman.

“Let them try, I’m not Hassan” Diab, a defiant Hariri said, when told that there is an “inclination” to fire Othman.

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman apologized to journalists and media outlets on Thursday following a new night of violent demos that involved assaults on journalists at the hands of ISF members.

“I sincerely apologize to the media and to the journalists who were covering the events yesterday outside the Helou barracks,” Othman said at a rare press conference.

During his latest visit to Lebanon’s second largest city Tripoli – his first regional visit in 2020 -- British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling reiterated “the UK’s ongoing support to the people of Tripoli,” the British embassy said on Thursday.

Rampling announced a further $1.7 million supporting the city’s economy reaching the most vulnerable under the Lebanese Host Communities Support Program (LHSP) in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNDP Lebanon. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the British Council Director David Knox and Tripoli’s Mayor Dr. Riad Yamak, renewing “the UK’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable communities.”

The new government is expected to be formed on Friday should the positive atmosphere continue, media reports said.

Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab has asked for 24 hours to resolve “minor issues that are still pending,” Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) quoted unnamed sources as saying.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab held talks Thursday in Ain el-Tineh and agreed on the formation of a “government of specialists,” Berri’s political aide said.

“The meeting was very positive and it was a continuation of constant communication,” caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil told reporters after the meeting.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Thursday warned that the “destruction of banks” would destroy Lebanon.

“Today, Lebanon is between the hammer of U.S. sanctions and the Iranian anvil,” Jumblat tweeted.

Caretaker Interior Minister Raya el-Hassan on Thursday said nothing justifies the use of violence against journalists, noting that military force inflicted on press members a day earlier was “unintentional.”