President Aoun: The explosion was caused by negligence or by external action, with a missile or a bomb
Aug. 8, 2020
Lebanese president Michel Aoun was first informed on July 20 about a dangerous stockpile of ammonium nitrate in the port of Beirut – nearly three weeks before a huge blast killed 154 people and injured another 5,000.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, president Aoun said he immediately ordered military and security agencies to do “what was needed”, but suggested his responsibility ended there, saying he had no authority over the port and that previous governments had been told about the explosive chemicals.
“It is possible that it (the explosion) was caused by negligence or by external action, with a missile or a bomb,” he added.
Read more at http://www.defenddemocracy.press/beirut-blast-lebanese-president-was-informed-about-dangerous-stockpile-nearly-three-weeks-ago/
‘Lebanese people have suffered too much’: US encourages ‘peaceful’ regime change as protests rage in blast-ravaged Beirut
8 Aug, 2020
The US Embassy has expressed its solidarity with anti-government protesters in Lebanon, urging all sides to “refrain from violence,” after clashes in blast-devastated Beirut left around 500 people injured.
Thousands of people gathered in Beirut on Saturday, demanding the government resign over corruption and negligence, which they believe led to the horrific explosion this week.
Amid clashes with riot police, protesters stormed several government buildings and attempted to reach the Parliament. Several military units were eventually deployed to help riot police restore order, forcing the US Embassy in Beirut to wade into the crisis, voicing its support for the citizens’ “right to peaceful protest.”
Read more at http://www.defenddemocracy.press/lebanese-people-have-suffered-too-much-us-encourages-peaceful-regime-change-as-protests-rage-in-blast-ravaged-beirut/
Macron styles himself as Lebanon’s savior, ready to reshape country’s system in Western image
9 Aug, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron has rallied a host of international donors to support Lebanon, and promised that the country’s future “is being decided now.” The French leader, it seems, will be the one making the decisions.
More than 150 people lie dead, with thousands injured following a devastating chemical explosion in the capital of Beirut on Tuesday. As public anger toward the Lebanese government grows, two ministers and at least seven Members of Parliament have resigned — and crowds of enraged protesters have stormed government buildings and demanded the wholesale resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government.
Read more at http://www.defenddemocracy.press/macron-styles-himself-as-lebanons-savior-ready-to-reshape-countrys-system-in-western-image/
