Beirut, Nov 4 (IANS): Massive anti-government protests were staged in Lebanon's largest cities, with demonstrators demanding the departure of the ruling class amid calls for a general strike.

On Sunday afternoon, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Beirut's Martyrs Square, reports Efe news.

The current wave of protests broke out in mid-October when the Lebanese government announced its intention to approve a rate of 20 cents a day for voice calls on social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook or Viber in an attempt to increase revenue from indebted state.

Among Sunday's protesters were hundreds of women who gathered in Museum Square carrying banners denouncing sexism.

Anti-government protests spread across the county, including the northern Tripoli city, the eastern city of Baalbek and the southern cities of Sidon and Nabatieh, among others.

Calls for anti-government protests were also made on social media.

In Beirut and Sidon, some protesters chanted slogans calling for a general strike starting on Monday, urging the closing of shops and offices, and the blocking of roads if a new government is not formed.

On October 29, Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his resignation and that of his government in the wake of the protests.

President Michel Aoun is yet to begin the mandatory parliamentary consultations to name a new Prime Minister.

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of Free Patriotic Current supporters gathered in favour of Aoun and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, amid anti-government protests.

The party-organised rally in support of Aoun, the founder of the party, and Bassil, its leader, took place on the road leading to the Baabda Presidential Palace with the participants, who were brought in from across Lebanon, hoisting Lebanese flags and the army flag.