France has reportedly stepped in to help Lebanon resolve the crisis of forming a new government in light of stalled efforts and swelling street protests against the political elite, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Lebanon’s anti-corruption protesters on Thursday staged a demo outside the headquarters of state-run Electricite du Liban in Beirut’s Gemmayze area to denounce chronic power cuts and an institution seen as a symbol of Lebanon’s dysfunctional political system.

Protests were also held outside ex-PM Fouad Saniora’s house on Beirut’s Bliss Street and outside his office in the Sidon district town of al-Hlaliyeh.

Vehicles were on Thursday queuing at gas stations in Beirut and Sidon after station owners said they would soon run out of stocks due to a renewed dollar exchange rate crisis.

“The fuel problem has not been resolved because those who should resolve it – the central bank and the Energy Ministry – have not come up with a complete solution but rather half a solution,” the Syndicate of Gas Station Owners and the Syndicate of Fuel Tanker Owners and Fuel Distributors said in a joint statement.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday said that he is fully keen on the re-designation of caretaker PM Saad Hariri as premier.

“I’m insisting on his designation because it is in Lebanon’s interest and I support Lebanon’s interest,” Berri told NBN television.

Caretaker Education Minister Akram Shehayyeb on Thursday attributed “claims about the loss of $9 million in the file of refugee education” to “a shortage in funding according to UNICEF.”

“To boost transparency over the file, I sent a memo to the Central Inspection Board asking it to look into the file to unveil the truth,” Shehayyeb said at a press conference.

Former premier Fouad Saniora on Thursday gave a three-hour testimony before Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim in the case of “the $11 billion spent between 2006 and 2008,” the National News Agency said.

The hearing session was held in the presence of Saniora’s lawyer – ex-minister Rashid Derbas.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks with President Michel Aoun Thursday afternoon at the Baabda Palace.

"I visited the president for consultations on the issue of the government and we’ll continue the consultations with the rest of the parties," Hariri said after the meeting.

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim pressed charges of “squandering public funds" against Director General of the Lebanese Customs Badri Daher.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat slammed the authority’s intent to “revive” a settlement related to the presidency post, adding that his party will not participate in the upcoming government.

Caretaker Economy Minister Mansour Bteish issued a memorandum related to local currency pricing, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.