Hundreds of Lebanese demonstrators have reclaimed streets emptied by the coronavirus-induced lockdown to revive a moribund protest movement but stayed in their cars to respect social distancing, AFP reported.

Joyous convoys of honking cars decked out with Lebanon's cedar-emblazoned flag converged on Martyr's Square, the epicentre of the protest movement born almost exactly half a year ago.

“It's so good to be back, there's no better feeling,” said Hassan Hussein Ali, a 22-year-old protester who came equipped with a loudspeaker and a protective mask.

“Corona has killed everything but it hasn't stopped the corruption of our politicians, so it will not stop us either,” he said, standing outside Beirut's landmark Mohammad al-Amin mosque.