Lebanon declares emergency in Beirut

By Hasan Darweesh

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – The Lebanese government on Wednesday approved the decision of the Supreme Defense Council to announce a state of emergency in Beirut following the deadly blast on Tuesday.

The government also decided in its session held in the presidential Baabda Palace to put all concerned officers in the port under house arrest, especially those who were responsible for the port's warehouses checking the explosive materials since 2014.

The Lebanese Information Minister Manal Abdelsamad said the state of emergency will last for two weeks effective as of Aug. 4 with possibility to be extended.

Abdelsamad added that the security of the capital will be under the authority and responsibility of the Lebanese military where all security apparatuses will operate under the directions of military authority.

The Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi said that the investigation into the blast will be transparent and last for five days and those responsible for the explosion will be held accountable.

Beirut and its surrounding suburbs were rocked on Tuesday by a massive blast that left at least 135 people dead and nearly 5,000 injured.

Following the blast, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab declared Wednesday as a national day of mourning.

The blast rocked Lebanon while the country is experiencing its worst economic crisis along with the dramatic drop in the Lebanese pound value to the US dollar.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara