Lebanon’s government has resigned amid mounting anger over the explosion that devastated parts of Beirut and left more than 200 people dead.
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The announcement was made in a national TV address by Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Monday evening.
The massive blast was caused by the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port for years.
There has been mounting anger in Lebanon, which was already troubled by worsening economic situation, against the government.
Many residents blamed the government for storing such large amount of the ammonium nitrate, used for fertiliser but also for bomb-making, in a residential area.
Read Also: Lebanon: Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast ‘Caused By Welder’ As Death Toll Passes 100 (photos)
Protesters have taken to the streets and clashed with police for a third straight day.
Diab in his speech stated;
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.
He stated that the government has come to the conclusion that corruption in Lebanon is “bigger than the state”.
Diab expressed that he is taking “a step back” so he can stand with the people “and fight the battle for change alongside them.”
Parliament will now have to decide on a new prime minister – a process involving the same sectarian politics at the root of the complaints.
Losses from the catastrophic blast are estimated to be between $10bn to $15bn, with nearly 300,000 people left homeless.
The last decision taken by Diab’s government before its resignation was to refer the case of the explosion to the Supreme Judicial Council, which handles crimes infringing on Lebanon’s national security as well as political and state security crimes.
The Supreme Judicial Council is Lebanon’s top judicial body.
