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Lebanese government resigns amid fallout from Beirut explosion

Prime Minister Hassan Diab said he and his cabinet were stepping down in response to popular demands, saying "the system of corruption is bigger than the state."
TOPSHOT - A Lebanese protester beats a drum amid clashes with security forces near an access street to the parliament in central Beirut on August 9, 2020, following a deadly explosion that turned the city into a disaster zone. - The huge chemical explosion that hit Beirut's port, devastating large parts of the Lebanese capital and claiming over 150 lives, left a 43-metre (141 foot) deep crater, a security official said. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon’s government resigned today following last week’s deadly explosion and subsequent mass protests. The country’s political future is in question as it continues to face an economic crisis and the fallout from the tragic blast. 

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced the resignation in a speech televised by Lebanese news outlets. He said the decision was in response to popular demands.

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