BEIRUT: The Lebanese people have a right to be furious after "decades of unbelievable corruption, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said in an interview published Sunday night as pressure mounted on him and his government to resign.
I am not afraid of the peoples fury. Absolutely they have a right to be furious, not just because of this, Diab told British broadcaster ITV at the blast site in Beirut Port.
It is absolutely diabolical what happened; however, they were also furious before that, about three decades of unbelievable corruption ... We are here facing all of these accumulated problems.
Following the explosion at Beirut Port, two ministers have so far resigned over the governments negligence and general failure to reform the public administration as Lebanon weathers its worse ever financial crisis.
MP Henry Helou announced his resignation Monday morning. This comes after MP Michel Mouawad announced his resignation Sunday, in addition to MP Neemat Frem, who also resigned following the blast.
At least 159 people died in the port blast, which United States Geological Survey researchers say generated seismic waves equivalent to a 3.3 magnitude earthquake. More than 6,000 were injured and dozens remain missing.
A small but heated protest took place in central Beirut Friday night a precursor to the demonstration that raged Saturday as tens of thousands of Lebanese took to the streets to demand justice for the blast and the downfall of the political system.
Asked whether he would speak directly to the people on the streets to assuage their anger, Diab said: Of course I dont have a problem with doing that ... Im not sure when Im going to go onto the streets, but I am part of the people.
Justice Minster Marie-Claude Najm was booed away by angry Lebanese when she visited Gemmayzeh last Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron toured that area the same day and was met by Beirut residents who called him their only hope, although critics described Macron as a behaving like a little Emperor during his visit.
A special Cabinet meeting is set to take place at Baabda Palace at 3 p.m. Monday and Diab has urged several further ministers to hold off on submitting their resignations until after that meeting.
Ministers will discuss Diabs proposal to hold early Parliamentary elections, and how to address the implications of the Beirut blast and the ongoing investigation into the worst disaster in Lebanons history.
Manal Abdel-Samad and Demianos Kattar Sunday both resigned from their respective posts of information minister and environment minister.
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