Anti-corruption protesters cut off major roads in Lebanon for a ninth day Friday, pledging to keep paralysing the country despite an offer by the president to meet their representatives.

MP Shamel Roukoz said he backs a total governmental change and that a new government of specialists must be formed as soon as possible to address the current situation in Lebanon, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Thursday welcomed President Michel Aoun’s address to the nation and called for the formation of a “small, neutral and competent” government.

“President Michel Aoun addressed the Lebanese clearly and frankly, pinpointing their suffering and describing the Lebanese people as lively people who are capable of achieving change,” al-Rahi said in a statement released by Bkirki.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Thursday afternoon at the Center House with the ambassadors of European Union countries, in the presence of the EU Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf.

Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Thursday told party members not to be scared of the ongoing popular revolt in the country.

“The most important thing is: do not fear and do not shake. This Movement does not fear and does not shake,” Bassil told FPMers inside the movement’s headquarters in Sin el-Fil as they came up with their own “Hela, Hela, Ho” pro-Bassil chant in response to the popular slogan used by protesters on the streets – and in some instances inside cafes and supermarkets.

Scuffles renewed Thursday at Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square between anti-government protesters and young men accusing them of "insulting" Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The scuffles had first erupted Wednesday evening but took a more violent turn on Thursday with the increase in the numbers of both the protesters and the "Nasrallah defenders."

UNIFIL on Thursday marked the 74th United Nations Day at its headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon, "joining the global call for international peace and security as enshrined in the U.N. Charter," a UNIFIL statement said.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col said the Day serves as a reminder to act collectively for maintaining peace around the world.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Thursday welcomed President Michel Aoun’s call for a government reshuffle.

“I called Mr. President and welcomed his call for reevaluating the current government situation according to the applicable constitutional mechanisms,” Hariri tweeted.

Protesters listening to the speech of President Michel Aoun on Thursday

showed dissatisfaction with a speech that came eight days after the uprising began.

After one week of unprecedented Lebanese protests, President Michel Aoun addressed the nation in a televised speech saying he is ready to meet representatives of protesters.