Ya Libnan

Beirut explosion death toll rises to 158, as anti gov protests escalate

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The death toll from Tuesday’s catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut has risen to 158, the Lebanese health ministry media office said on Saturday. 

The number of people injured exceeds 6,000 and 21 are still reported missing, it said.

Riot police fire tear gas at protesters in Beirut who were demanding an International investigation of the explosions that rocked the capital  , Some protesters carried banners demanding the end of Iran’s occupation of Lebanon , a possible reference to the Hezbollah’s domination of the country

Judgement day

Protesters began arriving at Martyrs’ Square to participate in “Judgment Day”, to punish those responsible for the explosion of hanger No. 12 in the port of Beirut.

Effigies of leading politicians were attached to mock gallows which have become a key symbol of the demonstrations in Martyr Square in downtown Beirut . The gallows were erected in the same place where several people were hanged more than 100 years ago by the then ruling Ottoman Empire for revolting against Istanbul. The Martyr’s Square statue commemorates those executions.

The organizers set mock gallows as a punishment for the politicians that brought the country to where it is today , they say.

President Aoun’s effigy was the first to be symbolically hanged followed by the effigy of his son- in- law Gebran Bassil according to witnesses

Protesters are calling for the downfall of the country’s political elites. 
They threw stones at riot police near the parliament in Nejmeh Square.

“I lived the civil war. I was displaced, lived harsh days and we already lost houses in the war. We thought that was it,” said Hayat Gharazeddine, 51.

“These days however are worse than war. You have no idea how you might die now, which is the most scariest thing.””I wish I could hang them myself,” she added.

Agencies

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4 responses to “Beirut explosion death toll rises to 158, as anti gov protests escalate”

  1. No Avatar
    No

    @Saturday, 08 August 2020 KSA 20:22 – GMT 17:22

    Diab also called on all political parties to “agree on the next stage,”
    and said: “I am ready to assume responsibility for the presidency of the
    government for a period of two months, provided that structural reforms
    be undertaken to save the country.”

    “Diab said: ‘I am ready to assume responsibility for the presidency of the
    government for a period of two months, provided that structural reforms
    be undertaken to save the country.’”

    Michel? Do you concede?

    1. Arzna Avatar
      Arzna

      In Lebanon they call the PM president of the council of ministers ( other names are cabinet and government) .
      They also call Speaker Berri the president of the chamber of deputies . Dont worry about this minor detail . In Lebanon the real president lives in a bunker somewhere between Lebanon and Iran and all the so called top leaders do what they are told by Nasrallah after he gets his orders from the ayatollahs in Qom . Poor Lebanon we are a Persian colony and the Beirut blast proved it

      1. No Avatar
        No

        One can hope for a sign of the change in power (or at least a start of head-on-head infighting), while protesting and fighting …

  2. No Avatar
    No

    @Saturday, 08 August 2020 KSA 20:22 – GMT 17:22

    Diab also called on all political parties to “agree on the next stage,”
    and said: “I am ready to assume responsibility for the presidency of the
    government for a period of two months, provided that structural reforms
    be undertaken to save the country.”

    “Diab said: ‘I am ready to assume responsibility for the presidency of the
    government for a period of two months, provided that structural reforms
    be undertaken to save the country.’”

    Michel? Do you concede?

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