Violent protests reported on Tuesday in the Lebanese city of Tripoli. Demonstrators destroyed an Al-Jazeera van while protesting the appointment of a Hizbullah-backed premier, Najib Mikati.
The consultations to form the new government will start on Thursday. "My arm is stretched to everyone," Mikati said.
Earlier, in an effort to calm the volatile situation in Tripoli, the caretaker premier Saad Hariri called for calm. Addressing his supporters he said: "I express my thanks and gratitude to all citizens who took this path and decided to participate and raise their voices regarding the national decision." But he added: "I reject completely every aspect of violence and lawlessness which accompanied these popular movements and tarnished the national goals of these noble of these movements."
Hariri added "the anger should not cut off roads and hurt the freedom of others, whatever the motives of this." Hariri expressed his regret over the attack on "Al Jazeera" vehicle saying: "I appeal to everyone's commitment to show the highest degree of calm and caution and not to be drawn into acts called by suspicious elements. "
