Cities like Benghazi and El Beida in eastern Libya were rocked with angry protests from Thursday through Friday over power cuts and poor living conditions.
Demonstrators called for the interim government headed by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani to step down.
Eastern-based House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh demanded that authorities in east Libya convene immediately to overcome the crisis.
Saleh called on al-Thani, the Governor of the Central Bank in Benghazi, Ali Al-Hibri, the Director of the Brega Company, and the heads of the Parliament's committees for an urgent meeting to meet the demands of the protesters in Benghazi.
Hundreds of young Libyans first flooded the streets of Benghazi and other eastern cities late Thursday, setting piles of tires ablaze.
Late Friday, dozens of men were seen returning to the streets, blocking traffic at major intersections.
Many demonstrators lit fires in the roads, chanting lyrics from popular anthems decrying government corruption.
Demonstrators denounced administrative and financial corruption in state institutions, lack of liquidity in banks and the devaluation of the currency in the black market.
“Living conditions in our regions have become unbearable, in light of the dollar soaring in the parallel black market, increased unemployment, and the absence of government services,” said Ali Emsaaed, a Benghazi resident.
“We hold al-Thani’s government, which failed to provide services to the people, responsible for the dreadful living conditions in Benghazi,” Emsaaed told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Ministry of Interior withdrew all its forces to the outskirts of Benghazi, to avoid any skirmishes between security personnel and protesters.
Political and rights activist Jamal al-Falah, who is also a Benghazi resident, stressed that according to the constitution, peaceful protesting is an unalienable right to all Libyans.
Al-Falah also emphasized the need for people to keep the demonstrations peaceful.
