Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Al-Arabia – Six members of the Lebanese parliament and one Cabinet minister have resigned following Tuesday’s deadly explosion at Beirut port.
Lebanon’s Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad submitted her resignation on Sunday following the blast and public outcry over the government’s response to the disaster.
“After the enormous Beirut catastrophe, I announce my resignation from government,” she said in a television statement, apologizing to the Lebanese public for failing them.
The announcement was followed by the resignation of MP Neamat Efrem from the House of Representatives, state news agency the National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Interactive content by Flourish
He added that he would be suspending all parliamentary activities until a session was held to shorten the parliament’s term and early elections were called.
His announcement makes him the 6th parliamentary to declare their resignation since Tuesday.
During a short speech on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he would propose early parliamentary elections and would be willing to remain in his position for another two months.
At least 158 people were killed and more than 6,000 others were injured in the capital on Tuesday when a warehouse storing 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded after catching on fire.
The explosion had destroyed entire buildings and shattered windows, leaving around 300,000 people in Beirut homeless.
Following Diab’s speech, protesters stormed the foreign, economy, energy, and environment ministries on Saturday, as well as the Banking Association building.
Hundreds gathered in the streets of Beirut, holding banners that read “capital of the revolution” and “Beirut is a demilitarized city.”
Demonstrators chant slogans outside the premises of the Lebanese foreign ministry during a protest following Tuesday’s blast, in Beirut, Lebanon August 8, 2020. (Reuters)
The other MPs that have resigned so far are independent MP Paula Yacoubian, Progressive Socialist Party MP Marwan Hamadeh and all three MPs from the Kataeb Party: Sami Gemayel, Nadim Gemayel and Elias Hankash.
Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan, Tracy Chamoun, stepped down from her position on Thursday, telling Lebanese TV station MTV that “negligence, theft and lying” should no longer be tolerated.
Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned from his post on Monday – the day before the catastrophic explosion – describing an absence of serious political will to implement reform to address the country’s economic crisis.
He was quickly replaced by Charbel Wehbe, a senior advisor to President Michel Aoun.
