The crowd held signs Sunday criticizing the sectarian makeup of Lebanon’s government. According to the power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni and the Parliament speaker a Shiite.

Each faith makes up about a third of Lebanon’s population of 4 million. Other government jobs are also allocated according to religious affiliation. The arrangement has been blamed for most of the country’s problems over the decades, including corruption, cronyism and above all the civil war (1975-1990) and its subsequent crises.

The protesters braved torrential rains and marched on the main courthouse, chanting “the people want to oust the regime.”

More than 2,600 Facebook users had signed up to participate in the rally but the wet weather seemed to have dissuaded a significant portion.

“Come on Lebanese, rise up against confessionalism!” and “We want a secular state” were some of the slogans launched at the protest.

“Confessionalism is bad for your health, we ask you to abstain from it,” and “Tyrants of Lebanon, your turn is next” chanted others.

Organizers used Facebook to publicize the demonstration, which was peaceful and dispersed by midday. Protesters called for a secular government.