Lebanon: a second minister resigns, new clashes in Beirut

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After the demonstration which took place on Saturday August 8 in downtown Beirut and which brought together thousands of protesters in a climate of very high tension, hundreds of Lebanese again took to the streets on Sunday August 9 to shout their anger against the political class, after the double explosion which ravaged the city. Two ministers resigned Sunday, and more could follow.

Publicity

With our special correspondent in Beirut, Pierre Olivier

Sunday, August 9, at the end of the day and for the second consecutive evening, the area surrounding Beirut's Martyrs Square was the scene of clashes between a few hundred demonstrators and the police. According to the local television channel LBCI, an undercover policeman fired an assault rifle several times without causing any casualties.

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Towards a collective resignation of ministers ?

Since the deadly explosion of Tuesday, August 4, the streets have held the leaders of Lebanon's political class responsible and demanded that they give up their place. Over the past few days, seven MPs have resigned. And this Sunday, the Minister of Information, Manal Abdel Samad , and the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Damianos Kattar, surrendered their seats.

"  I apologize to the Lebanese, we were unable to meet their expectations,  " Manal Abdel Samad told the press on Sunday when her resignation was announced. A few hours later, the Minister of the Environment and Administrative Development, Damianos Kattar, also announced his departure from the government "  in the face of the enormous catastrophe (...) and (...) a sterile regime which failed many opportunities  ”.

Several Lebanese media report that other ministers could follow their example. Some even go so far as to mention a collective resignation which could take place after the Council of Ministers scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, August 10.

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• Lebanon
• Hassan diab

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