"We are blocking all roads to show the anger of the people," said one demonstrator at the entrance of Beirut city.

The protests came as the Lebanese pound continued its dramatic fall against the US dollar, which has led food prices to spiral.

The pound was trading over the weekend at nearly 10,500 pounds against the dollar on the black market for the first time since 2019 when demonstrators took the streets to protest against a corrupt ruling class in the country.

"This is an alarm bell to all Lebanese leaders that a social explosion is on its way in the Lebanon," another protester said.

Roads linking Beirut to northern and southern Lebanon were also blocked by angry demonstrators, witnesses said.

Some protesters were calling on people on social media to leave their homes and take the streets in order to join hands to save Lebanon from total economic and social collapse.

Lebanon has been without a government since Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned on August 10, days after a powerful explosion hit the port of Beirut. Diab has since been serving in a caretaker capacity.

Lebanon's prime minister-designate Saad Hariri, a veteran politician, has failed since October to form a new government due to political divisions among rival factions.

The current economic crisis is Lebanon's worst since its 15-year civil war that ended in 1990.

Australian Associated Press