Rioters thronged the streets of Beirut, questioning the Lebanon government’s lack of response regarding the devastating explosion. Around 5000 people gathered at Martyrs’ Square at the centre of the city and started throwing stones. They chanted saying “The people want the fall of the regime” and had posters saying “Leave, you are all killers”.
“We want a future with dignity, we don’t want the blood of the victims of the explosion wasted,” said Rose Sirour, one of the demonstrators. Many residents are still trying to combat the damage caused by the explosion. “We have no trust in our government,” said university student Celine Dibo to Reuters as she scrubbed blood off the walls of her shattered apartment building. “I wish the United Nations would take over Lebanon.”
Police tried to control those who were trying to break through the barrier to reach the Parliament. Following this, they opened tear gas on the rioters.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has pushed for an independent probe in this issue. Macron, who visited Beirut on Thursday, promised angry crowds that aid to rebuild the city would not fall into “corrupt hands”. He will host a donor conference for Lebanon via video-link on Sunday, his office said. A lot of other countries have rushed to Lebanon’s aide, and have displayed their solidarity in various means.