Lebanon's Information Minister resigns following Beirut explosion

Manal Abdel Samad quits because of government's failure to carry out reforms and Tuesday's blasts

Graffiti on the wall of a bridge overlooking the port of Beirut, the site of the explosion which killed at least 154 people and devastated swathes of the capital. The Information, Economy and Environment ministers have resigned over the blast. AFPShow less

The Lebanese Information Minister, Manal Abdel Samad, announced her resignation on Sunday because of government failure to carry out reforms and the catastrophic explosion that rocked Beirut on Tuesday.

Centrist business tycoon Neemat Frem, one of the most high-profile members of Parliament, resigned shortly afterwards, dealing another blow to the Hezbollah-aligned government.

Ms Abdel Samad said on live television that she had resigned “in response to the popular will for change”, and that she “bows in front of the spirit of those killed in the explosion”.

“I apologise to the Lebanese because we were unable to meet their aspirations," she told Lebanon’s National News Agency.

"Change remained elusive and since reality did not match the ambitions, and after the horror of the Beirut disaster, I submit my resignation from the government." 

Ms Abdel Samad is the highest-ranking Lebanese official to resign since the explosion at the Beirut port, which killed at least 158 people and wounded thousands more. 

Mr Frem, the descendant of a Lebanese industrialist family and Member of Parliament for Byblos and Keserwan, became the sixth legislator to resign since the explosion.

He said Parliament should dissolve itself to allow for early elections.

Independent MP Paula Yacoubian resigned on Saturday, as did three MPs from the Kataeb party.

They announced their decision at the funeral of a senior party colleague who was killed in the blast.

Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan, Tracey Chamoun, resigned on Thursday.

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  Lebanese anti-government protesters pull a protection wall leading to the Parliament square during a protest in Beirut. EPA

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  A protester strikes a wall with a metal bar inside the Lebanese Banks Association (ABL) headquarters. Bloomberg

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  Lebanese army soldiers stand guard by a shattered window inside the Lebanese Banks Association (ABL) headquarters during a demonstration. Bloomberg

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  Protesters break into the Lebanese Banks Association (ABL) headquarters during a demonstration. Bloomberg

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  A protester strikes the ceiling inside the Lebanese Banks Association (ABL) headquarters during a demonstration. Bloomberg

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  Protesters light fires inside the Lebanese Banks Association (ABL) headquarters during a demonstration. Bloomberg

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  A cloud of tear gas drifts through a crowd of protesters during a protest at Martyrs Square. Getty Images

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  Lebanese security forces run during clashes with anti-government protesters. EPA

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  A Lebanese anti-government protester flashes a victory sign and holds a blood-stained yellow jacket of a fellow protester during clashes with riot police. EPA

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  Protesters use fire extinguishers to block protesters' movements from the Internal Security Forces, not pictured, during a protest at Martyrs Square. Getty Images

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  Protesters move through a cloud of tear gas during a protest at Martyrs Square. Getty Images

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  Lebanese anti-government protesters face off with riot police. EPA

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  A Lebanese protester waves the national flag during clashes with security forces in downtown Beirut. AFP

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  A Lebanese protester speaks to soldiers at the headquarters of the Lebanese association of banks in downtown Beirut. AFP

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  An injured demonstrator is evacuated during a protest. Reuters

Ms Chamoun, a member of a prominent Christian political family from the Chouf Mountains, called for “national salvation government to protect the dignity of the Lebanese and their right to life”. 

Lebanese Forces party chief Samir Geagea, who is one of the fiercest critics of Hezbollah, said "we are now working for the republic’s relief by ridding it of this Parliament”.

“We are also making the necessary contacts and exerting relentless efforts to collect enough resignations to reach early parliamentary elections as soon as possible,” Mr Geagea wrote on Twitter.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he would today propose holding early parliamentary elections to the government in an attempt to address Lebanon’s political crisis.

In a short address that many Lebanese TV stations chose not to broadcast on Thursday evening, Mr Diab said he would introduce a draft bill proposing early elections.

“I am with the Lebanese people in wanting change,” he said.

“We can’t exit the country’s structural crisis without holding early parliamentary elections.”