Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab is to announce the resignation of his government in the wake of last week’s deadly explosion at Beirut’s port, several media outlets reported on Monday.
Diab is set to address the country at 7.30pm Beirut time.
Four ministers have already resigned, including Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni and Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm on Monday.
The decision was made in a cabinet meeting, during which it was expected that more ministers would resign. Diab had so far rejected calls to step down, but pressure had been growing following the blast on Tuesday that tore through Beirut, leaving at least 160 dead and causing vast material damage.
Lebanon was rocked by protests over the weekend, far angrier and more violent than those against the political elite seen regularly since October. Protesters are calling for President Michel Aoun to step down too.
The cabinet – ostensibly a technocratic formation but backed by Hezbollah and its allies – was formed in January following three months of popular protests against Lebanon’s corrupt political elite.
At least nine lawmakers have also announced they would quit the government in protest, as have two senior members of the Beirut municipality.❐
