The Lebanese Parliament on Thursday ratified the state of emergency declared in Beirut after the devastating explosion at the port, which fueled the rage of public opinion against a political class deemed responsible for the tragedy because of its negligence.
More than a week after the August 4 tragedy that left 171 dead and more than 6,500 injured, foreign visitors are coming to Beirut. The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly arrived Thursday in Beirut, which is also awaiting the arrival of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, David Hale, number three in American diplomacy.
A supreme military power would be in charge of the prerogatives in matters of security
The parliamentary session was held Thursday in Beirut, despite poorly followed calls for demonstrations. Chaired by the head of Parliament, Nabih Berri, in office since 1992, it officially endorsed the state of emergency, declared by the government in the aftermath of the tragedy for two weeks.
The vote was necessary because for any duration exceeding eight days, the Parliament must give its consent, according to the NGO Legal Agenda. It was not immediately clear, after the vote of the deputies, if the state of emergency began on Thursday, or if it was already considered in force since August 5. The government had specified that under the state of emergency, a supreme military power would be in charge of the prerogatives in matters of security.
For the NGO Legal Agenda, such a measure could "undermine the freedom to demonstrate" and allow the army "to prevent gatherings considered to be a threat to security".
The anger of the streets still strong
In recent days, clashes have rocked the vicinity of Parliament on several occasions, the police firing tear gas at protesters throwing stones. A military source, however, tempered these fears, assuring that it was not a question of "repressing freedoms".
Faced with the anger of the street, the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned Monday, after being formed in January by a single political camp, that of the influential Shiite Hezbollah and its allies.
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