Lebanon protesters keep pressure on as reform deadline nears

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have returned to the streets of Lebanon on Sunday for a fourth day of anti-government protests.

They aim to keep the pressure on Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri as a self-imposed deadline to deliver a package of reforms drew near.

"I didn't expect people from the country's north, south and Beirut to join hands and like each other. The protests have brought together everyone and this has never happened before," said Sahar Younis, a 32-year-old worker with a non-governmental organisation.

Several young protesters were also seen cleaning the streets of Beirut after a night of sometime violent protests.

Late on Saturday, the Maronite Christian Lebanese Forces party withdrew four ministers from the cabinet, piling further pressure on Hariri.