Lebanon justice minister resigns over Beirut blast

Lebanese Justice Minister Marie Claude Najm said in a statement on Monday (August 10) she had presented her resignation from the government, citing the catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut.

Najm visited the blast area on Thursday (August 6), only two days after the explosion, and was surrounded by an angry group of protesters who threw water bottles in her direction, forcing her to retreat from the scene.

Lebanon's cabinet, which formed in January with the backing of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies, was due to meet on Monday under pressure with many ministers wanting to resign, ministerial and political sources said.

Anti-government protests in the last two days have been the biggest since October when demonstrators took to the streets over an economic crisis rooted in corruption, waste, and mismanagement.

Protesters accused the political elite of exploiting state resources for their own benefit.

Some Lebanese doubt change is possible in a country where sectarian politicians have dominated the country since the 1975-90 civil war.