UN calls for rapid formation of Lebanese gov’t

The incident came at a time when Lebanon was dealing with a severe financial crisis along with the coronavirus pandemic. (File photo: Yuwen Memon/Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0)

ANKARA – The UN special coordinator for Lebanon called on Lebanese authorities Tuesday to rapidly form a new government following the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet.

In a statement, Jan Kubis called for the formation of a new government that meets the aspirations of the Lebanese people and enjoys their support and can address the urgent and many challenges facing the country.

Kubis also stressed the importance of avoiding a “prolonged period of governmental vacuum.”

“There are immediate humanitarian needs that need to be addressed and necessary reforms that need to be undertaken without any delay to restore the trust of the Lebanese people, and of the international community in Lebanon,” he added.

A powerful explosion rocked Beirut Port on Aug.

4 after a neglected stockpile of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse ignited.

The blast wave flattened nearby buildings and caused extensive material damage in the capital, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

The incident came at a time when Lebanon was dealing with a severe financial crisis along with the coronavirus pandemic.

Violent demonstrations continue despite the resignation of Diab and his government.

Corruption slammed

In Washington, the US sharply criticized Tuesday a history of government corruption and mismanagement in Lebanon that it said directly contributed to a devastating blast in Beirut and the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

A State Department spokesman squarely faulted the Lebanese government for the explosion in a statement sent to Anadolu Agency, and voiced support for subsequent ongoing demonstrations.

“The underlying cause of this tragic explosion — and the dire economic conditions throughout the country — is the decades of mismanagement, corruption, and the repeated failure of Lebanese leaders to undertake the meaningful, sustained reforms needed to put Lebanon on the path to security and prosperity,” according to the spokeswoman, who issued the statement on condition of anonymity.

Lebanese security forces earlier Tuesday fired tear gas canisters at protesters enraged by the tragedy in a bid to keep demonstrators away from the parliament building.

Demonstrators took to the streets demanding the departure of the ruling elite following the blast that has left at least 171 people dead and thousands more injured.

They chanted slogans denouncing the ruling political class, who they accuse of corruption and incompetence, and hold responsible for the blast.

The demonstrations that began last weekend and have continued each day “were re-ignited by anger and frustration over mismanagement of the port, which allowed this horrific accident to happen,” the spokeswoman said.

“We continue to support the right of the Lebanese people to protest peacefully and we call on the security services to ensure their safety and well-being,” she added.