Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is exerting efforts aimed at expediting the process of naming a new premier and forming a new government, media reports said.

LBCI television cited the meeting that Berri held with Deputy Speaker Elie al-Ferzli on Wednesday, adding that Ferzli “has embarked on an endeavor on the government file and he might hold a meeting with Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil.”

Protesters in the southern city of Sidon forced the closure of exchange and money transfer houses as Lebanon grapples with a dollar shortage crisis triggering economic woes, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

University and school students in several parts in north Lebanon skipped classes on Wednesday in a stand of solidarity with Lebanon’s uprising and the latest arrests of protesters in Beirut's Downtown area.

The “Shiite duo” Hizbullah and AMAL Movement were reportedly dismayed by the technique used by security and military forces when protesters a day earlier blocked routes leading to the parliament, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

Protesters arrested during scuffles with anti-riot police in Raid al-Solh Square on Tuesday evening have all been released, al-Joumhouria daily reported Wednesday.

Three protesters were injured and several were arrested in scuffles with riot police Tuesday evening at Beirut’s Riad al-Solh Square, the National News Agency said.

NNA said the skirmishes broke out after some protesters tried to cross the barbed wire and enter into Nejmeh Square where parliament building is located.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday lamented that “some parties did not honor their promises” regarding Tuesday’s botched legislative session.

“The parliamentary blocs and MPs were honest, according to their statements, but other sides did not honor their promises,” Berri told his visitors, hours after he was forced to postpone the session due to lack of quorum.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Tuesday evening at the Center House with a delegation from the Army Command, which was led by Brigadier General Wassim Saleh.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon on Tuesday lauded a security plan devised by the Interior Ministry and the Internal Security Forces to ensure the safety of bank employees amid the turbulent situations in the country.

A statement issued after the first day of banking operations which followed around a one-week strike by employees said ABL had contacted banks to “follow up on the developments after a long period of compulsory closure.”

Footage of Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar riding a scooter near parliament and chanting with protesters besieging the legislature’s building has gone viral on social media in Lebanon.

A video shows Ammar arriving on foot to a road-blocking protest near parliament, where a controversial legislative session was due to be held.