Protests continue one day after reveal of new Lebanese government

Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Demonstrators took to the streets of Lebanon again Wednesday, this time to protest the newly formed government announced one day earlier.

Protests first broke out in the country in October, resulting in the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The demonstrations -- at times violent -- have continued off and on in the months since.

University professor Hassan Diab was announced as the new prime minister, along with a new 20-member Cabinet on Tuesday. Diab was chosen by the Iran-backed military and political group, Hezbollah.

But protesters said the new leaders are the same people they've been rallying against over the past few months.

"We want the government to work according to our needs. If not, to hell with them," one protester, identified only as Mohammed, told Al Jazeera.

"If anything, the old Cabinet that we rallied against is slightly better than this 'one color' government," he added.

Protesters called for leaders who can pull Lebanon out of a financial crisis. Demonstrations turned violent outside Beirut's banks last week.

Lebanon's new finance minister, Ghazi Wazni, called for foreign aid to help the country out of its crisis.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Bloomberg in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday, that the United States is willing to work with the new Lebanese government but only if its "committed to reform."

"That's important for America, but if you look at the protests that are taking place in Beirut and cities outside of Beirut, you can see ... these aren't anti-American protests; these are protests demanding sovereignty and freedom," he said. "The protests taking place today in Lebanon are saying to Hezbollah, 'No Mas.' No more."

He said the United States is willing to support a government that stands up to corruption and that is responsive to its citizens.

"That's the kind of government that we'll support around the world and the kind of government we would support in Lebanon," he said.

The new Lebanese government is facing a test to see if it will be responsive to the demands of its people to implement reforms and to fight corruption, Pompeo said later Wednesday in a statement urging it and its security forces not to harm the protests.

"Only a government that is capable of and committed to undertaking real and tangible reforms will restore investor confidence and unlock international assistance for Lebanon," he said.