Lebanon PM Hassan Diab resigns after public outrage over major blast

Beirut, Aug 11: A week after a deadly explosion in Beirut, Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab has stepped down from his post saying a huge explosion that devastated Beirut and triggered public outrage was the result of endemic corruption.

 

 

 

In a brief televised speech after three of his ministers resigned Diab said on Monday that he is taking ‚"a step back‚" so he can stand with the people‚ "and fight the battle for change alongside them." He further added, “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.”

 

The Prime Minister's resignation comes after enraged protesters and world leaders alike demanded political reform following the Aug. 4 blast that killed almost 160 people and injured thousands more. It also destroyed swathes of the Mediterranean capital, compounding months of political and economic meltdown. The August 4 disaster, which was caused by highly explosive ammonium nitrate that was stored at Beirut's port for more than six years. Authorities say the explosion was triggered by a fire in a port warehouse.

 

Diab blamed politicians who preceded him for the "earthquake" that has hit Lebanon. "This disaster which has hit the Lebanese at the core occurred as a result of chronic corruption in politics, administration and the State," he said. He blamed the blast on corruption by former warlords from the 1975-1990 civil war who have exchanged their military fatigues for suits or were replaced by relatives. "Their corruption created this tragedy," said Diab. "Between us and change stand a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics."

 

Before Diab's announcement, four ministers had already decided they could no longer serve a government that had shown little willingness to take the blame or to put state resources at the service of the victims. Moreover, President Michel Aoun has accepted the resignation of the Diab government and asked it to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed. Diab's government was formed in January this year after his predecessor, Saad Hariri, stepped down in October last year in response to the demonstrations. It took months of bickering among the leadership factions before they settled on Diab.