LEBANESE protesters have blocked several roads around the capital Beirut and elsewhere amid protests against the ruling elite, who they say have failed to address the economy’s downward spiral.

Demonstrators burned tyres and blocked three main roads leading to the capital from the south, east and north, bringing traffic to a standstill.

School and university students took part in some of the protests and hundreds marched down main highways, raising Lebanese flags and blasting rallying songs through loudspeakers.

In Beirut, dozens rallied outside the Central Bank, chanting against the governor and his financial policies.

Security forces separated the protesters from the bank’s entrance.

In the northern city of Tripoli and in Akkar province, protesters sat in the streets and blocked several roads with burning tyres or bricks. In the southern city of Sidon, dozens of protesters marched down the streets, rallying outside banks and government offices.

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Lebanon is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with the local currency plummeting, losing over 60% of its value over the past weeks while sources of foreign currency have dried up.

Meanwhile, banks have imposed informal capital controls limiting withdrawal of dollars and foreign transfers in the country.

Panic has set in among residents who fear their deposits are in danger. Nationwide protests for three months have failed to pressure politicians to form a new government to institute drastic reforms.

The protesters returned to the streets after several weeks of relative calm, following the designation of Hassan Diab as prime minister in mid-December.