Beirut blast: Lebanon assembly approves state of emergency

Lebanon’s assembly has approved a two-week state of emergency in Beirut on Thursday after the last week’s disastrous incident.

According to the international news agency AFP, Top diplomats jetted in to show solidarity, contribute to the massive ongoing emergency aid effort but also to weigh in on political developments following a blast widely blamed on state corruption.

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A top US envoy announced that the FBI would take part in the investigation into the massive explosion that killed 171 people and wounded thousands of people.

Several demonstrators opposed as lawmakers arrived at parliament to approve the emergency. However, they were outnumbered by the security forces.

Lebanese are outraged at the political leadership after the huge shipment of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a powerful explosive, to deteriorate in a port for years despite safety warnings.

One social media user said, “You have destroyed us! Leave!”

The army will be allowed to shut down assembly points and restrict public gatherings deemed threats to national security when the emergency will be imposed.

Human Rights Watch said it was “very concerned” the state of emergency would serve “as a pretext to crackdown on protests and snuff out the very legitimate grievances of a large segment of the Lebanese population”.

Note that Lebanese security officials have warned the Prime Minister and the President last month that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port could explode and destroy the capital. It has been recently indicated in the exclusive documents by the Reuters news agency.