Lebanon's leaders face rage, calls for reform after blast

  • 📰 eNCA
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 61 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Qulity Score:
  • News: 28%
  • Publisher: 51%

Shock has turned to anger in Lebanon where at least 149 people died and more than 5,000 were injured in Tuesday's colossal explosion.

South Africa Headlines News

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

File: Lebanese anti-government protesters scuffle with security forces in the Gemayzeh neighbourhood during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron on August 6, 2020, two days after a massive explosion in the Beirut port shook the capital. The blast caused massive destruction and killed at least 113 people, heaping misery on a country in crisis.

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 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.Macron's visit to the small Mediterranean country, a French protectorate during colonial times, was the first by a foreign head of state since the disaster.

Another woman implored Macron to keep French financial aid out of the reach of Lebanese officials, accused by many of their people of rampant graft and greed.Macron later told BFMTV he was not presenting Lebanon's leadership with a"diktat" after some of the political class criticised his remarks as interference.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President Michel Aoun have promised to put the culprits responsible for the disaster behind bars.But trust in institutions is low and few on Beirut's streets hold out hope for an impartial inquiry.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 49. in ZA
 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Shock after couple killed in Pretoria east house robberyWayne Giles’s friend Karl Jensen said he was shocked at the brutality of the double murder, which nearly also claimed the life of the couple’s daughter, Rachel Giles, 20, who was shot during the incident. pretorianews
Source: IOL - 🏆 46. / 51 Read more »

Shattered Beirut at the end of its tetherBlast could not have come at a worse time for bankrupt Lebanon
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Lebanon in mourning as it searches for its dead after huge blastAt least 137 are confirmed dead, with dozens and up to a quarter of a million people have been left without homes fit to live in
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Lebanon blast killed at least 137, injured 5,000: ministryTuesday's explosion obliterated part of the port and caused damage over a wide radius in the heart of Beirut.
Source: eNCA - 🏆 49. / 51 Read more »

Lebanon mourns victims of devastating blast, searches for missingLebanon mourned on Thursday the victims of the most powerful blast to hit the country that was already being crushed by an economic crisis, as rescuers searched for those missing since the explosion that flattened Beirut port and devastated the city.
Source: SowetanLIVE - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »

Lebanon mourns victims of devastating blast, searches for missingLebanon mourned on Thursday the victims of the most powerful blast to hit a country that has already been struck down by an economic crisis, as rescuers searched for those missing since the explosion flattened Beirut port and devastated the city.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »