Beirut Explosion - Protests Continue Despite Government's Resignation - BBC News

8/11/2020 Beirut explosion: Protests continue despite government's resignation - BBC News
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Beirut explosion: Protests continue despite government's

resignation
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Beirut port explosion
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Beirut explosion: 'Who could replace her?'
Protests have taken place for a third consecutive night in Lebanon's capital, Beirut,
amid mounting anger over the devastating explosion a week ago that reportedly killed
more than 200 people.
Clashes broke out near the parliament building, with demonstrators throwing fireworks and
police firing tear gas.
Hours earlier, the Lebanese cabinet submitted its resignation.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab blamed the blast on years of endemic corruption but avoided
taking responsibility.
A fire is believed to have caused the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had
been stored for six years without safety measures at Beirut's port.
The blast wave flattened nearby buildings and caused extensive damage over much of the
rest of the city, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53727845 1/16
Lebanon was already struggling with an unprecedented economic crisis before the disaster,
with families pushed into poverty and hunger.
Since October, protesters have been demanding the complete overhaul of the political
system, which they blame for government corruption and mismanagement.
More on the explosion in Beirut

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Beirut explosion: Before-and-after images
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Mr Diab, a university professor who took office in January with the support of the Iran-backed
Hezbollah movement and its allies following the resignation of the previous government,
blamed last week's blast on the entrenched political elite.
"Their corruption created this tragedy," he said in a speech on Monday night. "Between us
and change stands a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics."
REUTERS
Mr Diab said that his caretaker administration would "follow the will of the people in their
demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster".
The BBC's Tom Bateman in Beirut says it is unlikely the mass resignation of the government
will remove much heat from the protests, as Lebanon's problems are only deepening.
A new prime minister will have to be chosen using the same system of sectarian politics at the
root of many people's complaints, our correspondent adds.
Meanwhile, the recovery operation is continuing on the ground in Beirut.
The UN said on Tuesday that the World Food Programme would be sending 50,000 tonnes of
wheat flour to Beirut to "stabilise the national supply and ensure there is no food shortage in
the country", with 17,500 tonnes arriving within two weeks.
The head of the agency, David Beasley, warned on Monday that he was very concerned that
Lebanon could run out of bread in about two-and-a-half weeks because 85% of the country's
grain was usually delivered through Beirut's port.
REUTERS
Mr Beasley said it was urgent to get the port up and running, and that he believed it could be
temporarily operational in two to three weeks.
A port official noted that the container terminal suffered "minimal damage" and that on
Monday night a ship docked there for the first time since the explosion.
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8/11/2020 Beirut explosion: Protests continue despite government's resignation - BBC News

Home News Sport Reel Worklife Travel Future M

Beirut explosion: Protests continue despite government's

Beirut port explosion

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Hours earlier, the Lebanese cabinet submitted its resignation.

More on the explosion in Beirut

Beirut explosion: Before-and-after images

'We don't have dreams any more'

What we know about the blast

Meanwhile, the recovery operation is continuing on the ground in Beirut.

Hassan Diab Lebanon Beirut port explosion

Share this story About sharing

More on this story

Lebanon: Why the country is in crisis

Beirut explosion: What we know so far

Beirut explosion: 'We don't have dreams any more'

Two Iranians sentenced to 10 years for spying

Fixing the scars of Beirut's explosion

Beirut: Anatomy of a lethal explosion

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BBC News BBC

BBC News BBC

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Where around the world is ammonium nitrate stored?

Book your beach: Keeping summer safe in S Korea

Is the world winning the pandemic fight?

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