Lebanon's President Michel Aoun designated politician Saad al-Hariri as prime minister on Thursday to form a new government to tackle the worst crisis since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

Prominent street leaders Sunday shunned an invitation by Lebanon's prime minister-designate to sit for talks over the formation of a new government

Lebanon's prime minister on Tuesday announced he was submitting the resignation of his government, bowing to nearly two weeks of unprecedented nationwide protests.

The prime minister admitted that he had hoped for a stronger showing but said he remained happy with the result, which contrasts with the expected gains made by the rival camp led by the Hezbollah group.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Tuesday that he had withdrawn his resignation, a month after his shock announcement that he was quitting sparked political upheaval.

Saad al-Hariri, who resigned as Lebanon's prime minister this month while in Saudi Arabia, told President Michel Aoun in a phone call he would be in Lebanon on Wednesday for Independence Day celebrations, Aoun said on Twitter on Saturday.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday that Lebanon's Saad Hariri must be able to return home from Saudi Arabia to end uncertainty caused by his shock resignation as prime minister.

Saad Hariri, whose resignation as Lebanon's prime minister a week ago sent shockwaves across the region, said Sunday he is "free" in Saudi Arabia and will return to Lebanon "very soon".

The United States on Saturday urged all states and parties to respect Lebanon's sovereignty following the power vacuum created by the prime minister's sudden resignation.

The head of Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement on Friday said Saad Hariri, who resigned as Lebanese prime minister from Riyadh last week, was "detained" by Saudi Arabia.

Lebanese headed to the polls for the first time in six years on Sunday for municipal elections including in Beirut, where a new grassroots campaign is taking on entrenched parties.