Beirut blast forces out government
Cabinet quits after street protests
LEBANON’S government quit last night after facing public fury sparked by the Beirut port explosion.
Prime minister Hassan Diab said he had come to the conclusion that corruption in Lebanon is ‘bigger than the state’.
His cabinet collapsed after four of his ministers resigned and others said they were willing to follow on the day the death toll rose to 220.
Mr Diab, who only became PM in January, said he was taking ‘a step back’ so he could stand with the people ‘and fight the battle for change alongside them’.
He said: ‘I declare today the resignation of this government. May God protect Lebanon.’
Mr Diab blamed corrupt politicians preceded him for the ‘earthquake’ that has hit Lebanon. ‘They (the political class) should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster
‘Paralysed by this clique’
that had been hidden for seven years,’ he added.
‘I have discovered that corruption is bigger than the state and that the state is paralysed by this (ruling) clique and cannot confront if or get rid of it,’ said Diab, who was a professor at the American University of Beirut before he took the job.
Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun, 85, who has been in post since 2016, remained in post despite calls for him to go.
The resignations came after days of demonstrations that have seen clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters. Last week’s massive blast obliterated Beirut port and large parts of the city. It is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a 2,750-tonne stockpile of ammonium nitrate. The material had been stored at the port since 2013 with few safeguards despite numerous warnings of the danger.
The blast injured 6,000 and left nearly 300,000 homeless. The cost of the damage is estimated to be up to £12billion.
About 20 people have been detained over the blast, including the head of Lebawho non’s customs department and the head of the port. World leaders have pledged nearly £230million in humanitarian aid, but warned no money for rebuilding would be available until Lebanese authorities commit themselves to political reforms.