After the disaster, the anger in Beirut. A policeman died, 730 injured

• Beirut, President Aoun: "A missile or a bomb cannot be ruled out"
• Beirut. The Saturday of anger with the cry of revolution
• Beirut: Unicef, 80 thousand displaced children, many family members are missing
• In Beirut at least 157 dead and 5 thousand injured. Italian military wounded: very loud, indescribable roar
• Beirut, Farnesina sources: Italian death in the explosion
• Explosions in Beirut: the European satellite shows damage over 4 square kilometers
• Destruction and death in Beirut, the testimony of witnesses: "It was hell"

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Urban guerrilla scenes in central Beirut. 730 people injured during the "Saturday of Anger", the mass demonstration against the government held responsible for the explosion on Tuesday, which caused the death of 158 people (provisional toll).

There were stone-throwing against the police and shooting of tear gas on demonstrators who tried to break through a barrier to reach the parliament building, an agent who died during the clashes. In vain did the army appeal, which asked the crowd gathered in the perimeter of the parliament to demonstrate "peacefully", recalling that it had "martyrs who fell in the explosion at the port".

Protesters stormed the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, removed the photo of the President of the Republic Michel Aoun and destroyed it by throwing it to the ground. The live images of this assault come from Lebanese TV Al Jadid which is broadcast live: "Go away! Go away!", Shout the attackers referring to the head of state. The Departments of the Environment, Energy and Economy were also attacked. Several buildings and vehicles were set on fire in the central squares of the city, the headquarters of the banks' association vandalized.

The Lebanese army then cleared the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Beirut in the evening from a group of demonstrators who had occupied it, AFP correspondents reported. Protesters, led by retired army officers, had taken over the building, proclaiming it "revolution headquarters" during the anti-government demonstration in Beirut. The army then sent reinforcements to clear the building. Other demonstrators subsequently abandoned the Ministry of Energy after negotiations with the police.

The protesters shouting "people want the fall of the regime" raised banners reading: "Go away, you are all murderers". A mannequin resembling Hasan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah and considered a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, was hung from a fake wooden scaffold. In the past, offenses and insults against Nasrallah have always aroused the angry reaction of the followers of the pro-Iranian Party of God, an armed militia that has representatives in Lebanese institutions. And the reaction was not long in coming.

Hezbollah followers attempt
to storm Martyrs' Square Hezbollah followers took to the streets in the city center, from the nearby neighborhood of Zoqaq al Blatt, to protest Nasrallah's display of mannequins. The Lebanese army intervened and for now has repelled the assault on the Ring, the flyover that overlooks Piazza dei Martiri. Here, law enforcement clashed with anti-government protesters, firing rubber bullets and tear gas. 

The Lebanese media also report that the Internet has been interrupted throughout the downtown area. In recent weeks there had already been interruptions in telephone communications in the area due to technical malfunctions. But the media speculate that today's hiatus was decided by the authorities to limit the protesters' ability to communicate with each other via the Internet and spread images of the ongoing violence.

Premier Diab: "The massacre at the port will not go unpunished". And calls for early elections
"The massacre in the port of Beirut will not go unpunished," premier Hassan Diab assured, in a speech to the nation. "All those responsible for the port will be investigated," he added.

Diab called on political parties to resolve the country's crisis in two months, otherwise there will be early elections. The premier did not resign, but thus gave a political ultimatum: "Now is the time for collective responsibility. We want a solution for all Lebanese".

The Elysée: elements to consider the explosion an accident
'' France believes that there are sufficient elements to believe that the explosion in Beirut was an accident ''. This was announced by an official source of the Elysée, as reported by the Daily Star. "There are enough objective elements to believe that the hangar exploded for accidental reasons," said an official source of the French presidency. Yesterday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun spoke of the "possibility of foreign interference, such as a missile, bomb or other means '' as the cause of the explosion at the port.

EU, Michel asks for independent investigation
"The President of the European Council Charles Michel has asked for an independent investigation to identify the causes of the catastrophe and has offered European expertise": the EU Council announced in a statement. Michel flew to Lebanon today to bring the solidarity of the European Union and urge reforms.

"EU solidarity but the country makes reforms"
Full solidarity from the EU "partner and long-time friend" of Lebanon, but also a reminder of the structural reforms requested by citizens and the need for an "urgent agreement with the IMF" and "steps concrete measures to reform the financial system and adopt anti-corruption measures "said Michel at the end of his visit to Beirut. Michel met with presidents Aoun, Berri and Diab and underlined with them the importance of structural reforms, requested by citizens, in line with the government's plan and international commitments. Local political forces, he said, should seize the opportunity and join in the national effort to address immediate needs but also long-term challenges. "It is critically important that Lebanon implement fundamental structural reforms. The Lebanese can count on the EU in this effort, but internal unity is the key", concluded Michel.

Still missing
21 people are still missing in Beirut, after the powerful explosion that devastated the port and several districts of the Lebanese capital on 4 August. Local authorities have made it known, writes AFP.

The Ministry of Health explained that "the dead are 158, including 25 who have not yet been identified" and "there are also 21 people still missing", while rescuers continue to dig through the rubble in search of possible survivors. Yesterday the Ministry of Health announced that of the 6,000 injured over 100 are in critical condition.

Among the victims, the Dutch media reported, the wife of the Dutch ambassador to Lebanon. Hedwig Waltmans-Molier, 55, was seriously injured while she was in the living room of her residence with her husband. Molier was an employee of the Dutch Foreign Ministry. The couple returned to Lebanon last week after the holidays.

Kataeb Christian party deputies to resign
Lebanese Christian Kataeb party president Samy Gemayel announced that the group's three deputies in parliament will step down in protest against the government over this week's deadly explosion. Gemayel spoke at the funeral of a senior party official who was killed by the explosion at the port of Beirut. The party is part of the opposition and is known for its harsh criticism of the government, supported by Hezbollah and its allies. The Lebanese parliament has 128 members and some MPs have announced that they will step down in protest against widespread corruption. Marwan Hamadeh has already resigned this week.

The CDM approves a state of emergency due to foreign intervention
The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of President Giuseppe Conte, approved the declaration of a state of emergency for intervention abroad as a result of the exceptional events that hit the city of Beirut, in Lebanon, August 4, 2020. This is what we learn from the press release issued by Palazzo Chigi with the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers which met last night under the presidency of President Giuseppe Conte.

Trump: aid videoconference with Macron today
The US president also announced on Twitter that today he will participate in an international videoconference of donors in support of Lebanon.