This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/beirut-explosion-lebanon-security-forces-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-as-anger-mounts-over-blast
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Beirut explosion: Lebanon security forces fire teargas at protesters as anger mounts over blast | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| State media says several people were injured in protests as country’s ambassador to Jordan resigns over ‘state negligence’ | State media says several people were injured in protests as country’s ambassador to Jordan resigns over ‘state negligence’ |
| Lebanese security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Beirut, as rage over the country’s leadership grew following a massive explosion that laid waste to large parts of the capital on Tuesday. | Lebanese security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Beirut, as rage over the country’s leadership grew following a massive explosion that laid waste to large parts of the capital on Tuesday. |
| State media reported late on Thursday that security forces confronted dozens of anti-government protesters in central Beirut. Some in the small protest were wounded, the National News Agency, NNA, reported. | |
| Protesters had gathered near parliament, where a small fire was lit and stones were thrown at security forces, according to NNA. | Protesters had gathered near parliament, where a small fire was lit and stones were thrown at security forces, according to NNA. |
| Shock has turned to anger in the city where nearly 150 people died and more than 5,000 were injured when a huge pile of ammonium nitrate that had languished for years in a port warehouse ignited. | Shock has turned to anger in the city where nearly 150 people died and more than 5,000 were injured when a huge pile of ammonium nitrate that had languished for years in a port warehouse ignited. |
| Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan announced her resignation on Thursday, saying “total negligence” by the country’s authorities signalled the need for a leadership change. | Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan announced her resignation on Thursday, saying “total negligence” by the country’s authorities signalled the need for a leadership change. |
| In a televised statement aired by Lebanese broadcaster MTV, Ambassador Tracy Chamoun said she could “no longer tolerate” the government’s ineptitude. | In a televised statement aired by Lebanese broadcaster MTV, Ambassador Tracy Chamoun said she could “no longer tolerate” the government’s ineptitude. |
| “I am announcing my resignation as an ambassador... in protest against state negligence, theft and lying,” said Chamoun, who was appointed to her post in 2017 with the endorsement of President Michel Aoun. | “I am announcing my resignation as an ambassador... in protest against state negligence, theft and lying,” said Chamoun, who was appointed to her post in 2017 with the endorsement of President Michel Aoun. |
| “This disaster rang a bell: we should not show any of them mercy and they all must go,” she added. “This is total negligence.” | “This disaster rang a bell: we should not show any of them mercy and they all must go,” she added. “This is total negligence.” |
| It is the second resignation by a Lebanese official since the explosion. Lawmaker Marwan Hamadeh resigned on Wednesday over the blast, which authorities said was triggered by a fire igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in a warehouse at Beirut’s port. | It is the second resignation by a Lebanese official since the explosion. Lawmaker Marwan Hamadeh resigned on Wednesday over the blast, which authorities said was triggered by a fire igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in a warehouse at Beirut’s port. |
| Compounding the country’s woes, Lebanon recorded 255 coronavirus cases on Thursday – its highest single-day infection tally – after the explosion upended a planned lockdown and sent thousands streaming into overflowing hospitals. | Compounding the country’s woes, Lebanon recorded 255 coronavirus cases on Thursday – its highest single-day infection tally – after the explosion upended a planned lockdown and sent thousands streaming into overflowing hospitals. |
| The disaster death toll rose from 137 to 149 on Thursday evening, the health ministry said, and was expected to further rise as rescue workers kept digging through the rubble. | The disaster death toll rose from 137 to 149 on Thursday evening, the health ministry said, and was expected to further rise as rescue workers kept digging through the rubble. |
| Even as they counted their dead, many Lebanese were consumed with anger over the blast. | Even as they counted their dead, many Lebanese were consumed with anger over the blast. |
| “We can’t bear more than this. This is it. The whole system has got to go,” said 30-year-old Mohammad Suyur. | “We can’t bear more than this. This is it. The whole system has got to go,” said 30-year-old Mohammad Suyur. |
| The small demonstration on Thursday night, as well as a flood of angry social media posts, suggested the disaster could reignite a cross-sectarian protest movement that erupted in October but faded because of the grinding economic hardship and the coronavirus pandemic. | The small demonstration on Thursday night, as well as a flood of angry social media posts, suggested the disaster could reignite a cross-sectarian protest movement that erupted in October but faded because of the grinding economic hardship and the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President Michel Aoun have promised to put the culprits responsible for the disaster behind bars. A military prosecutor announced 16 port staff had been detained over the blast. | Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President Michel Aoun have promised to put the culprits responsible for the disaster behind bars. A military prosecutor announced 16 port staff had been detained over the blast. |
| But trust in institutions is low and few on Beirut’s streets hold out hope for an impartial inquiry. | But trust in institutions is low and few on Beirut’s streets hold out hope for an impartial inquiry. |
| The country’s ruling class, has long been accused of ineptitude and corruption, and has become the target of a protest movement that began in October demanding systemic change. | The country’s ruling class, has long been accused of ineptitude and corruption, and has become the target of a protest movement that began in October demanding systemic change. |
| The small Mediterranean nation has since been gripped by its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 war, further fuelling anti-government sentiments. | |
| Many have raised questions as to how a huge cargo of highly explosive ammonium nitrate could have been left unsecured in the capital for years. | Many have raised questions as to how a huge cargo of highly explosive ammonium nitrate could have been left unsecured in the capital for years. |
| On Thursday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, toured the city’s devastated port and surrounding suburbs, as hundreds of people in one neighbourhood called for revolution and the downfall of the government. | On Thursday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, toured the city’s devastated port and surrounding suburbs, as hundreds of people in one neighbourhood called for revolution and the downfall of the government. |
| “I guarantee you this – aid will not go to corrupt hands,” Macron told the protesters. “I will talk to all political forces to ask them for a new pact. I am here today to propose a new political pact to them.” | “I guarantee you this – aid will not go to corrupt hands,” Macron told the protesters. “I will talk to all political forces to ask them for a new pact. I am here today to propose a new political pact to them.” |
| But he also warned that the country – already in desperate need of a multi-billion-dollar bailout and hit by political turmoil since October – would “continue to sink” unless it implements urgent reforms. | But he also warned that the country – already in desperate need of a multi-billion-dollar bailout and hit by political turmoil since October – would “continue to sink” unless it implements urgent reforms. |
| The International Monetary Fund, whose talks with Lebanon started in May but have since stalled, warned that it was “essential to overcome the impasse in the discussions on critical reforms”. | The International Monetary Fund, whose talks with Lebanon started in May but have since stalled, warned that it was “essential to overcome the impasse in the discussions on critical reforms”. |
| The IMF urged Lebanon - which is seeking more than $20 billion in external funding and now faces billions more in disaster costs - “to put in place a meaningful programme to turn around the economy” following Tuesday’s disaster. | The IMF urged Lebanon - which is seeking more than $20 billion in external funding and now faces billions more in disaster costs - “to put in place a meaningful programme to turn around the economy” following Tuesday’s disaster. |
| Amid the fury and gloom, the explosion’s aftermath has also yielded countless uplifting examples of spontaneous solidarity. Business owners swiftly posted offers to repair doors, paint damaged walls or replace shattered windows for free. | Amid the fury and gloom, the explosion’s aftermath has also yielded countless uplifting examples of spontaneous solidarity. Business owners swiftly posted offers to repair doors, paint damaged walls or replace shattered windows for free. |
| Lebanon’s diaspora, believed to be nearly three times the tiny country’s five million population, has launched fundraisers and wired money to loved ones. | Lebanon’s diaspora, believed to be nearly three times the tiny country’s five million population, has launched fundraisers and wired money to loved ones. |
| In Beirut, volunteers handled much of the cleanup. Husam Abu Nasr, a 30-year-old volunteer, said: “We don’t have a state to take these steps, so we took matters into our own hands.” | In Beirut, volunteers handled much of the cleanup. Husam Abu Nasr, a 30-year-old volunteer, said: “We don’t have a state to take these steps, so we took matters into our own hands.” |