A nationwide general strike has been called across Lebanon for Monday as protests, demanding an end to economic woes and perceived government corruption, are set to continue for a fifth day.

Protests have grown steadily across the country since people took to the streets on Thursday in response to a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls and other messaging services.

More:

• As protests grow, Lebanese are ‘reclaiming’ public spaces

• Lebanon reforms ‘must start from politicians’ bank accounts’

• Lebanon protests: Five things you need to know

The call for a strike has come despite pledges of reforms by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the resignation of government ministers on Sunday.

Here are the latest updates:

Monday, October 21

Cabinet approves reforms following five days of protests

Lebanon approved reforms and the 2020 budget following five days of protests, Prime Minister Hariri announced on Monday.

The reforms include cutting of politicians’ salaries by half.

Government agrees reforms, debating last point related to power sector

Lebanon’s cabinet is discussing a final issue related to the power sector in a list of reforms after agreeing to all the others, the president’s office said on Monday.

The government convened to approve a reform package, including halving ministers’ wages, in a bid to defuse the biggest protests against the country’s ruling elite in decades.

Power sector reform is one of the biggest issues the government is tackling.

Lebanon to cut ministers’ pay in bid to ease protester rage

Lebanon’s cabinet is expected to halve ministers’ wages among other reforms.

The package of moves includes a 50 percent cut in the salaries of current and former presidents, ministers and politicians, and benefit cuts for state institutions and officials, officials told Reuters news agency.

It further provides for the central bank and private banks to contribute $3.3bn to achieve a “near-zero deficit” for the 2020 budget.

Protesters have said this would not be enough to send them home, demanding the demise of politicians they accuse of rampant corruption.

Lebanon’s president decries protesters ‘generalising’ fraud accusations

President Michel Aoun said it was unfair to tarnish everyone with corruption allegations, adding that banking secrecy should be lifted from the accounts of current and future ministers.

“What is happening in the streets expresses people’s pain, but generalising corruption [charges] against everyone carries big injustice,” he said.

Lebanon has strict rules over bank account privacy that critics say makes the country susceptible to money laundering.

A chorus of voices, from union leaders to politicians, has joined calls for Prime Minister Hariri’s government to resign.

Volunteers clean streets after massive protest

Lebanese protesters are back on the streets, but this time to scoop up demonstration debris in downtown Beirut.

People responded to a general call on social media to clean up the streets and squares that were occupied by tens of thousands on Sunday night.

“This is not organised by organisations or NGOs, it was a personal initiative,” said volunteer Sandra Chaoul.

“Some people sent messages yesterday on Instagram asking people who want to volunteer to come at 8am and we answered the call.”

Protesters begin final countdown as 72-hour deadline comes to close

Protesters across Lebanon have been counting down the hours after Prime Minister Hariri gave his cabinet a 72-hour deadline on Friday to agree reform plans, hinting he might otherwise resign.

The deadline expires on Monday evening.

Lebanese president’s son-in-law joins protesters

Lebanese member of parliament and son-in-law of President Aoun, Shamil Roukoz, has joined demonstrators in Matn, a district in Mount Lebanon.

Videos published by Lebanese media showed Roukouz greeted with applause and carried on the shoulders of other protesters.

صهر الرئيس اللبناني ينضم الى المتظاهرين https://t.co/33iLcYwT76 pic.twitter.com/JcKkAjH4m2

— حديث المدينة (@citytalksnews) October 21, 2019