Lebanon Government Resigns After Beirut Blast Kills 160 People

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News 

(Worthy News) – Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced Monday that he and his government have resigned amid public outcry over a Beirut port explosion that killed 160 people. The August 4 blast also injured 6,000 men, women, and children and left hundreds of thousands of residents homeless.  

In brief televised remarks, Prime Minister Diab said he is taking “a step back” to stand with the people “and fight the battle for change alongside them.”

He added: “I declare today the resignation of this government. May God protect Lebanon,” repeating the last phrase three times.

A brief while earlier, Diab’s Cabinet stepped down. 

Diab blamed corrupt politicians who preceded him for last week’s “earthquake.” In recent days, news emerged that Lebanese officials knew the dangers posed by storing ammonium nitrate at the port, but failed to act. Several crowded residential neighborhoods in the city’s eastern and predominantly Christian half were ravaged.

“They [the political class] should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster that had been hidden for seven years,” Diab stressed.

It was unclear whether his resignation would be enough to calm down angry shell-shocked Lebanese demanding accountability for the mishandling of the explosive material that shook Beirut. 

The destruction resembles scenes of the 1975-1990 civil war that also ravaged the capital, once known as the “Paris of the Middle East.” 

Latest Worthy News