In the aftermath of Beirut explosion, massive public unrest in Lebanon

The Beirut accident only sparked further anger in a country with a ravaged economy

Lebanon Explosion Photo Gallery Representational image

A group of Lebanese protesters, including retired army officers, stormed the foreign ministry building in the capital Beirut as part of protests following the massive explosion this week. The protesters said Saturday the foreign ministry would be the headquarters for a revolution and called on the current government to resign.

Retired army officer Sami Ramah read a statement on the building's steps after dozens of protesters pushed their way into the building. This authority must step down, he said. Protesters raised flags with the image of a fist that has come to symbolise nationwide anti-government protests. Some of the nearly 200 protesters entered the building and burned a few documents and pictures of the Lebanese president. It was not clear what the documents were.

Rage against the government spiked after the Beirut port explosion that killed nearly 160 people and injured 6,000 while leaving much of the coastline mangled. Protesters gathered in central Beirut clashed with security forces. The explosion was fueled by thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the city's port for more than six years. Apparently set off by a fire, the blast was by far the biggest in Lebanon's troubled history and caused an estimated $10 billion to 15 billion in damage, according to Beirut's governor. It also damaged 6,200 buildings and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

The disaster has taken popular anger to a new level in a country already reeling from an unprecedented economic and financial crisis and near bankruptcy. Resignation or hang, read a banner held by protesters, who also planned to hold a symbolic funeral for the dead. Some nooses were also set up along the bridges outside the Port.

Public anger had already been rising in Lebanon before the blast because of an unprecedented financial crisis in which the national currency lost 80 per cent of its value. Banks imposed informal capital controls in a controversial effort to control the collapse of the pound and foreign currency flight. The dire conditions were deepened with rising power cuts and concerns that hospitals were facing severe shortages and financial troubles. 

A Lebanese health ministry official said on Saturday that the blast killed 154 people, including 21 bodies who have not been identified. He added that 45 people are still missing.

The president of a Christian party in Lebanon says the group's three legislators in parliament will resign in protest against the government over this week's deadly blast. Samy Gemayel made his comments on Saturday during the funeral of a senior official with the Kataeb Party who was killed in Tuesday's blast that destroyed Beirut's port and damaged the capital. The Kataeb party is part of the opposition and is known for its harsh criticism of the government that is backed by the militant Hezbollah group and its allies.

Lebanon's parliament has 128-members and some legislators have said they will resign in protest over widespread corruption. Legislator Marwan Hamadeh resigned earlier this week in protest after the blast occurred.

Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay said Ankara is ready to help Lebanon rebuild Beirut's port and send ambulance planes to evacuate some of the wounded for treatment in Turkish hospitals. Oktay spoke on Saturday to reporters after meeting Lebanese President Michel Aoun. He added that a Turkish search team is working at the port that was destroyed in a massive explosion on Tuesday. Oktay said Turkey has already sent two field hospitals, 400 tons of wheat and food products. He added that his government is ready to use the Turkish port of Mersin to receive products that can be later sent to Lebanon in smaller ships.

-Inputs from agencies

TAGS