Lebanese ministers quit amid protests
BOWING TO ANGER Two ministers resign, more likely to go amid fury over catastrophic blast; French President Emmanuel Macron leads video conference to raise emergency relief
BEIRUT: Two ministers resigned on Sunday and more are likely to quit as Lebanese called for an uprising to topple their leaders amid public fury over last week’s devastating explosion in Beirut.
Information minister Manal Abdel Samad resigned “in response to the public calls for change.” Environment minister Damianos Kattar also resigned, according to state television. Local media also reported that another minister, and a close adviser to Prime Minister Hassan Diab, was expected to resign. Six lawmakers have already resigned and several government officials have offered to quit.
Christian Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-rai said the resignation of an MP or a minister is not enough. “The whole government should resign.”
The Lebanese army said on Sunday that hopes have dwindled of finding survivors at the blast site in Beirut following days of search and rescue operations supported by international experts.
Tuesday’s catastrophic explosion killed 158 people and injured more than 6,000, destroying parts of the city and compounding months of political, economic meltdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for speedy international backing for Lebanon and urged its leaders to prevent “chaos” as he opened an emergency aid conference.
The European Commission on Sunday added another 30 million euros to the 33 million already announced .
Saturday’s protests were the biggest since October when thousands of people took to the streets to demand an end to corruption, bad governance and mismanagement. About 10,000 people gathered at Martyrs’ Square, which was transformed into a battle zone between police and protesters who tried to break down a barrier along a road leading to parliament. Some demonstrators stormed government ministries and the Association of Lebanese Banks.
People defied dozens of teargas canisters fired at them and hurled stones and firecrackers at riot police, some of whom were carried away to ambulances. One policeman was killed and the Red Cross said more than 170 people were injured. Soldiers in vehicles mounted with machine guns were stationed beside the square.