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Beirut explosion: Lebanon justice minister resigns after port blast

AFP
AFP

Lebanon’s justice minister has announced her resignation from government, citing the deadly explosion at the port of Beirut.

Marie Claude Najm is the third minister to have stood down in the wake of the devastating blast in the Lebanese capital last Tuesday, which killed more than 160 people and injured more than 6,000 others.

Her announcement on Monday follows the resignation of Kattar Demianos, the country’s environment minister who is a close confidant of prime minister Hassan Diab.

Mr Demianos said in a statement late Sunday that he is leaving the government in solidarity with the victims, describing the ruling system as “flaccid and sterile”.

Hours before Mr Demianos' resignation, Lebanon’s information minister Manal Abdel-Samad had also stepped down saying in her resignation letter that change remained “elusive” and she regrets failing to fulfil the aspirations of the Lebanese people.

A Cabinet meeting is due to be held on Monday, amid reports that the whole government could resign.

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