Friday 26 / April / 2024
Beirut: Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab, on Monday, announced the resignation of his government, after a deadly explosion in capital Beirut that has triggered anti-government protests.
Health Minister Hamad Hassan told reporters at the end of a Cabinet meeting on Monday that Prime Minister Hassan Diab would head to the presidential palace to "hand over the resignation in the name of all the ministers.''
"The whole government resigned," Hassan said.
The prime minister would formally announce the resignation of his government, he added.
The Lebanese government on Monday held a cabinet meeting amid mounting pressure to step down over the devastating explosion that killed more than 150 people in Beirut earlier this week.
Protesters and critics of the government have blamed corruption and poor leadership at the heart of Lebanon's government for the explosion.
At least nine members of parliament have resigned since the blasts with many more ministers wanting to resign, Reuters reported citing ministerial and political sources.
The cabinet was formed in January with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies.
Snap elections
Hours after the first protests rocked Beirut over the weekend, Prime Minister Hassan Diab vowed to hold early parliamentary elections as his embattled government faces calls to resign.
Diab said he would stay in government for another two months until major parties can reach an agreement.
About 20 people have been detained over the explosion, including the head of Lebanon's customs department and his predecessor, and the chief of the port.
Dozens more have been questioned, including two former Cabinet ministers, according to government officials.
Investigations into the blasts is focusing on how 2,750 tons of the extremely explosive ammonium nitrate chemical came to be stored at a warehouse in Beirut's port for six years.
