Lebanon: Hariri's ally urges resignation amid protests

BEIRUT, Lebanon

Amid rising protests in Lebanon, an ally of Prime Minister Saad Hariri asked him to resign on Friday.

Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea said: "I am aware of the efforts the prime minister has made to remedy the situation, unfortunately, the ministerial majority has other things in mind.

"The best thing Prime Minister Hariri can do in this difficult time is to submit his resignation, paving the way for the dissolution of the Cabinet and to form a new different government that could improve the economy."

Protesters blocked roads and started fires across the country for a second day on Friday over government plans to impose more taxes.

The ongoing protests are among the largest the nation has witnessed in years.

Lebanon has one of the world's highest debt burdens in at $86.2 billion in the first quarter of this year. This accompanied by high youth unemployment that has brought people on the edge.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara