The protest movement rocking Lebanon since October 17 revived this week as a deepening economic crisis increases pressure to form a new government.
Diab faces huge challenges in trying to form a consensual government that would also satisfy protesters who have been on the streets since mid-October, looking to do away with an entire political class they deem corrupt.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Elie Ferzli, an ally of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, nominated former education minister Hassan Diab as prime minister, indicating the Shia group and its allies had agreed on him for the position.
The protests come hours after President Michel Aoun postponed consultation to select a new prime minister after weeks of largely peaceful street protests descended into weekend violence, leaving dozens wounded.
Hundreds of people had been marching in the capital as part of a historic wave of protests that has swept Lebanon since October 17, furious at a ruling elite that steered the country towards its worst economic crisis in decades.
Tuesday marks the 71st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A consensus on businessman Samir Khatib appeared to form last week among the main parties, including Saad al Hariri. But Khatib failed to win enough backing from the Sunni Muslim establishment for the position.
Lebanon is deep in the throes of an economic crisis that has shaken confidence in the country's banks and worsened since the protests erupted on October 17.
Caretaker PM Saad Hariri says he did not want to be premier of a new government, putting the onus on adversaries to find an alternative who can steer the protest-hit country out of the crisis.
Lebanon marks 76 years of self-rule, with protesters kicking off festivities nationwide instead of a military parade to mark what they say is a first year of "real independence."
Protesters were angered by President Michael Aoun and felt ignored, ramping up the intensity of the protests following the death of one protester who was shot and killed by Lebanese soldiers.
While regional powers are playing the long game in Lebanon which is balanced on a knife-edge, Hezbollah digs its heels in when it should be accepting more responsibility for the country's crisis.
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