Lebanon's banks will suspend an ongoing strike for one week at the request of the country's caretaker premier, the Association of the Banks of Lebanon announced on Friday, days after the prime minister moved against a judge investigating the financial institutions.

The banks have been on strike since Feb. 7, following a meeting to discuss the snowballing legal measures they have been facing since Lebanon's economy began to unravel more than three years ago.

The meltdown has seen severe restrictions imposed on withdrawals and transfers by depositors, many of whom have filed lawsuits against their banks or held them up to get access to their own funds.

The ABL said it had decided to halt the strike "based on the wish of the prime minister," so depositors would be able to access banking services.