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Lebanese PM Hassan Diab's Cabinet resigns over Beirut blast: Reports

August 10, 2020



BEIRUT — The Lebanese government led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned on Monday almost a week after a devastating blast in Beirut caused massive public outrage.

The resignation of the entire Cabinet, which comes after a string of ministers stepped down, was announced by Diab in a televised address to the nation. Diab called the blast "the result of endemic corruption."

Addressing the agitated Lebanese citizens, the outgoing premier said: "Today, we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change."

"In the face of this reality ... I am announcing today the resignation of this government," the Lebanese PM added.

Earlier in the day, Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan had announced that the premier will resign along with his Cabinet colleagues after their meeting with the president.

“The whole government resigned,” Hamad had said. He had added that Diab will head to the presidential palace to “hand over the resignation in the name of all the ministers”.


The massive blast in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday left at least 158 dead and more than 6,000 injured when a warehouse storing 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded after catching fire.

The explosion had destroyed scores of buildings and shattered windows, leaving around 300,000 people in Beirut homeless. — Agencies


August 10, 2020
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