Lebanese trade union goes on strike to protest economic conditions, government deadlock

Friday's strike was called for this week by the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, with the backing of the new cross-sectarian Sabaa Party.

"The country is heading toward collapse … this is what all the politicians are saying," said Victoria El Khoury Zwein, a co-founder of Sabaa.

"What we are saying is that the country is in crisis and therefore we need a government that should be running affairs during this crisis and come up with a quick rescue plan."

Beirut's port was closed, as were several other state institutions, such as the National Social Security Fund and the electricity company, which had the gates to its compound closed with chains.

Flights stopped for an hour in the morning at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport.

"The strike is directed toward politicians who failed to produce a Cabinet," said Bechara Asmar, head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers.

"Is demanding that a government to solve the problems a shame?"

Lebanon is currently reeling from political deadlock as political parties struggle to agree on a government since elections in May.

In mid-November, Hariri accused his main political rival - the Shia movement Hizballah - of obstructing the formation of a new cabinet.

A month later, he promised that Lebanon would have a government "by the end of the year".

The slow process has worried observers, as the economy is teetering on the brink of disaster, hit hard by the fallout from the conflict that has ravaged neighbouring Syria since 2011.

"The economic situation is difficult, but this is not to say it is impossible," Hariri said on Tuesday.

The international community pledged up to $11.5 billion in aid and loans for Lebanon at a conference in Paris in April.

But the promised funding is largely destined for infrastructure projects, which cannot be actioned without a new cabinet. 

Agencies contributed to this report.

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