Protests grip Lebanon as fury at ruling elite, corruption grows.

Tens of thousands of angry protesters blocked roads and burned tires across Lebanon for a second day on Friday, demanding the demise of a political elite they say looted the economy to the point of breakdown.

The nationwide protests, Lebanon’s biggest in years, brought ordinary people from all sects and walks of life to the streets. They carried banners and chanting slogans calling on the government of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to resign.

In the afternoon, protesters poured en masse through the villages and towns of the south, north, and eastern Lebanon as well as the capital Beirut. No political leader, Muslim or Christian, was spared criticism.

Demonstrators reached the outskirts of President Michel Aoun’s palace in the suburbs of Baabda.

Across the country, protesters chanted in unison for their country’s top leaders, including Aoun, Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to step down.

In an unprecedented move, Shi’ite protesters also attacked the offices of their deputies from Lebanon’s influential Hezbollah (Party of God) and the Amal movement in southern Lebanon.

“We came to the streets because we can no longer bear this situation. This regime is totally corrupt,” said Fadi Issa, 51, who marching with his son. “They are all thieves, they come to the government to fill their pockets, not to serve the country.”

“We don’t want just a resignation. We want them (leaders) to be held accountable. They should return all the money they stole. We want change,” he added.

The demonstrations came as economists, investors and rating agencies warned that indebted Lebanon’s economy and graft-entrenched financial system is closer to the brink than any time since the war-torn 1980s.

Foreign allies have pressured Hariri to enact reforms long-promised but never delivered because of vested interests, beginning with an overhaul with some state assets.