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Explosion in Beirut: As the world offers aid, thousands of protesters return to protest in Lebanon's capital

2020-08-09T23:25:22.016Z


A world conference coordinated by France pledged to raise 250 million euros. In the Plaza de los Mártires there were marches and repression.


Maria Laura Avignolo

08/09/2020 - 17:11

  • Clarín.com
  • World

When the presidents of more than 30 countries of the world held a video conference coordinated by France to help Lebanon in its adversity and to commit to contributing 250 million euros , a new and violent demonstration in the Martyrs' Square in Beirut doubled the bet for demand the resignation of all political leaders.

A day after the Lebanese prime minister called for early elections under the pressure of the protests, the protesters descended on a Beirut destroyed by the ammonium nitrate explosion to express their "anger against the entire political class" , which carries more 30 years alternating in power.

Thousands of protesters advanced on Sunday night in front of the entrance to Parliament , in the heart of the city and not far from the destroyed port, to confront the forces of order. Others were deployed in front of the Le Gray hotel, where a policeman died last night, and the Martyrs' Square, where the tomb of the murdered Prime Minister Rafic Hariri is located.

The Lebanese returned to the streets of Beirut to protest against the government. AFP photo

“We want all the deputies, the ministers and the president to resign. If they don't quit, we'll still be here. The situation has become unbearable. All the young people want to leave Lebanon, ”denounced Jean, a 24-year-old Christian. " Lebanon is ours. Not all of these corrupt. The revolution is not going to stop. Those responsible must resign so that the people do not make the mistake of electing them again, ”he continued.

The National Information Agency (ANI) reported that the protesters entered the buildings of the Ministry of Labor and Displaced Persons. Police greeted them with tear gas grenades while protesters responded with stones. A journalist from the LBCI chain saw an individual in civilian clothing, on the side of the security forces, fire several times with an assault rifle.

Before 8 p.m. in Beirut, there were several injured people transported by the Lebanese Red Cross, when the health system is collapsed after the explosion of unknown origin that destroyed the city. Hundreds were wounded by live bullets on Saturday , as social media showed law enforcement officers firing pistols and rifles into the crowd, the army and security forces denying using the weapons.

Church of St. George

Source: Getty Images

At sunset on Sunday, in the Plaza de los Mártires, a fight broke out between the protesters and the guards of the ruling party deputy Chamel Roukoz. He sought to join the protesters and announced his resignation from the Lebanese parliament, which would be discussed tomorrow with a group of deputies. The protesters rejected his presence and custody intervened. R oukkoz is the son-in-law of Maronite Christian President and General Micheal Aoun , Hezbollah's ally in power. He had slammed the door on Aoun over differences with Gebral Bassil, exacerbated by the popular revolt that began in 2019.

The resignations in the cabinet continue . Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad resigned, as did Zghorta MP Michel Mowad. With their resignations they try to protest against those they consider "responsible for the ammonium nitrate explosion" that devastated the Lebanese capital.

When Beirut was mobilizing against its ruling elite, President Emmanuel Macron began his video-conference to raise funds to help Lebanon, led by US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, representatives from Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Japan. from the Gulf to get money urgently for the destroyed capital.

From the fort on the Côte d'Azur where he spends his vacation, which he interrupted for 8 hours to visit Beirut, President Emmanuel Macron said that "the figure obtained in the emergency reaches 252.7 million euros ." France contributed 30 million euros, when it started an airlift of seven planes and two ships to send food, flour, drinking water, and medicines to Lebanon.

There were China, Russia, Egypt, the Emir of Qatar, the Italian Prime Minister Giussepe Conte, the Spanish Pedro Sánchez, the representatives of the IMF, the World Bank, the Red Cross to offer "quick and effective" aid to the Lebanese population. and those without a coat.

Five days after the explosion, the international community wants to send a strong message: "In this horrible period, Lebanon is not alone . " That immediate help is from nations of swift generosity to a country destroyed in tragedy. The European Union offered 60 million, Qatar will deliver 50 million dollars, the Gulf countries opened their wallets.

The participants agreed that the aid will be coordinated under the UN and "sent directly to the Lebanese population", so that it does not fall into the hands of a corrupt political class and that it is inherited from father to son.

Donald Trump called "for calm" and recognized "the legitimacy of the calls for peaceful demonstrations for transparency." He called for a "full and transparent" investigation into the causes of the explosion . Iran did not participate in the conference but Macron pointed the finger "at the powers seeking division and chaos." He called for "the need for unity" and said he expected the help of Turkey and Russia as well as Israel, "which has expressed its interest in helping."

International aid has set four objectives : health, food for the Lebanese, who mostly pass through the now destroyed port of Beirut, the rehabilitation of destroyed schools and residential buildings demolished by the explosion.

Explosion in Beirut

Infographic: Clarín

The IMF suggested the implementation of "profound reforms that will unlock billions of dollars for the Lebanese people," according to IMF Director Kristalina Georvieva.

About fifty French policemen and gendarmes are working in Lebanon, with the Lebanese services, looking for the causes of the explosion.


Source: clarin

All news articles on 2020-08-09

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