Public drivers, tanker trucks and buses blocked major highways Thursday to protest the country's deteriorating economic and financial conditions

The general strike by public transport and labor unions started at 5 a.m., making it difficult for people to move around.

Unknown individuals torched a picture of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at dawn Wednesday in the southern town of Khiyam, state-run National News Agency reported.

President Michel Aoun, who finalized his talks with the heads of blocs Wednesday, will announce his final stance on national dialogue on Thursday, TV networks said.

Aoun had earlier in the day met with Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil and delegations from the Consultative Gathering, the Social National bloc and the Armenian bloc.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday denied reports claiming that Ambassador Dorothy Shea has met with Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss issues related to the central bank.

“We have been surprised by a media report noting that the central bank was yesterday the subject of a discussion between Ambassador Shea and Speaker Berri,” the Embassy said in an Arabic-language tweet.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil said Wednesday he told President Michel Aoun to hold dialogue regardless of the number of boycotters, adding that dialogue is the “way to salvation”.

Bassil said after meeting Aoun in Baabda that “it is not true that there are two camps in Lebanon, at least the FPM doesn’t belong to any camp.”

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh has said that banks are now allowed to unlimitedly buy U.S. dollars from the central bank in Lebanese pounds at the price specified by the Sayrafa platform.

“In addition to the monthly quota that the banks are withdrawing in USD, the banks now have the right to buy dollar banknotes from the BDL with the LBP currency that they and their customers possess, without a ceiling,” Salameh said.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated Wednesday that “it's not true that we've interfered in the work of the judiciary.”

Miqati, from the Grand Serail, said “we haven’t interfered in any decision taken by the judiciary, we have emphasized abiding by the rules in judicial matters and preserving institutions over defending individuals.”

President Michel Aoun likely won’t call for a national dialogue, since many announced they won’t attend it, informed sources said.

Sources close to the Presidency told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that Aoun will make a final decision after finishing his meetings with political leaders.

Mount Lebanon Attorney General Judge Ghada Aoun on Tuesday ordered General Security to impose a travel ban on Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh in connection with a lawsuit filed against him by activists.

A leaked copy of Aoun’s order says Salameh should be barred from traveling through all land, sea and air ports of entry due to “judicial requirements in light of the important clues and evidence in the preliminary investigation file, especially the lawsuit filed by the lawyers of the legal department of the People Want the Reform of the Regime group.”

French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo on Tuesday met with President Michel Aoun and discussed with him means through which France can help Lebanon amid the crisis it is going through, Lebanon’s National News Agency said.