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Disaster in Beirut

Thousands of protesters in Beirut in the wake of the explosion: "Want to overthrow the government"

The demonstrators tried to break through the checkpoints on their way to parliament in the Lebanese capital, displaying hanging ropes, and hurling stones at security forces - who sprayed tear gas in response. Dozens of them were injured during the protest. Residents are angry with the government over the disaster in which at least 158 ​​people were killed: "Leave, you are all murderers"

• Beirut
• Lebanon
• Protests

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Live broadcast from the demonstrations in Beirut

Thousands of angry residents demonstrate today (Saturday) in the streets of Beirut in protest against the government and confront the security forces. This is four days after the massive explosion at the port, which destroyed large parts of the city and left at least 158 ​​dead. Many link this to the corruption and mismanagement of the members of the government, and the explosion rekindled the rage in a country on the verge of economic and social collapse. The Red Cross evacuated 14 people injured during the protest to nearby hospitals, and 44 more wounded were treated on the spot.

About 5,000 demonstrators gathered in the Holy Square in the city center. Some threw stones, and police sprayed tear gas as some tried to break through roadblocks leading to Parliament. The protesters shout "The people want to overthrow the government", and hold signs that read "Leave, you are all murderers".

"We want a future where we will live with dignity, we do not want the blood of the victims of the explosion to be shed in vain," said Rose Syrur, one of the protesters.

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Some of the protesters displayed hanging ropes, while others called "Hezbollah terrorists." The Christian Phalangist Party, which opposes a government supported by the Shiite Hezbollah organization, announced today that its three MPs are resigning. The party's secretary general, Nazar Najarian, was one of those killed in the blast and his funeral was held in Beirut today.

The Lebanese army called on protesters to maintain order and avoid blocking roads and vandalizing property. Police also urged protesters to act "culturally and violently." In the conflict zone. "Is the army really here? Are you here to shoot us? Join us and we will fight together in the government, "a demonstrator shouted at them. The

government has promised to prosecute those responsible for 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a particularly explosive substance, was negligently stored in the port for about seven years. However, the public does not believe its statements and wants to overthrow the government. Which happened after the outbreak of the rage protests last October.

Anger at the regime was expressed in the streets. Ministers who tried to patrol severely damaged neighborhoods were evicted by residents. Beirut governor Marwan Aboud, who cried live after the explosion on Tuesday, comparing the city to Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombs, was forced to return to his car.

"After three days of cleaning up, clearing rubble and licking our wounds, it's time to let our rage explode and punish them," Fares Halabi, a 28-year-old activist, told AFP before the demonstrations.

Among the victims: dozens of Syrians and an ambassador's wife

On the night between Thursday and Friday, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces outside parliament in Beirut. Demonstrators marched from one of the disaster hotspots near the port to Shuhada Square, the heart of last year's uprising against the government. The rally should also be in memory of the victims of the blast, in which about 6,000 people were injured.

Authorities in Lebanon expect the death toll to rise. About 20 people are still defined as missing, but hopes of finding them alive under the rubble are waning.

According to the Syrian embassy, ​​43 Syrians were killed. Some were reportedly port workers. Lebanon is home to more than a million Syrian refugees who fled to it from the long war in their homeland and burdened its economy.

Another victim was the wife of the Dutch ambassador to Beirut, Hedwig Waltmans-Moliere, who died of her wounds days after the blast.

International human rights organizations and French President Emmanuel Macron, who was the first foreign leader to visit Beirut after the disaster, called for an international inquiry. However, Lebanese President Michel Aoun rejected it, saying local authorities would investigate whether the blast was caused by "foreign intervention," such as a missile or bomb.

"The goal behind these calls is to obscure the truth," said the Christian president, an ally of Hezbollah. He promised a transparent investigation, at the end of which 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate - a flammable substance commonly used for fertilization but explosives - could be prosecuted for seven years at the port of Beirut, since being unloaded from a cargo ship that came to a stopover, without the necessary safety measures. The failure shocked Lebanese citizens, who in recent years have experienced the collapse of social services.

According to the initial investigation, there is no basis for third party involvement in the explosion, but for a fire that broke out in a fireworks warehouse. To date, 21 officials have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the disaster, including Badri Dahar, director of the Lebanese Customs Service.

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Shocked and broken, Lebanese citizens are turning their anger after the explosion at the government

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Yesterday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denied any involvement in the blast, insisting that his Iranian-backed Shiite organization does not control the port of Beirut and does not store, or store, weapons or ammunition there. According to him, Hezbollah "knows the port of Haifa better" than the port of Beirut. Senior Israeli officials have previously said that the port of Beirut, the main gateway to Lebanon, was used by Hezbollah for arms smuggling.

At the same time, leaders from around the world are scheduled to attend a virtual donations conference tomorrow, organized by Macron. He was applauded as he toured the streets of Beirut on Thursday, warning that without reforms, Lebanon - a former French protectorate - would "continue to sink." Lebanon has failed to repay its bonds in March, but has nevertheless failed to formulate an aid package with the International Monetary Fund due to disputes over the transfer of reforms.

The conference is also scheduled to be attended by US President Donald Trump, who had a conversation with the Lebanese president yesterday and promised to help his country and send medical and humanitarian equipment.