حسان دياب سيقدم الاستقالة للرئيس لاحقا اليوم (رويترز)

Amidst massive demonstrations that swept across the parliament for the third day in a row, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab submitted his resignation today, and he is expected to deliver it at a later time to Lebanese President Michel Aoun. This comes hours after the government decided to refer the file of the Beirut Port bombing to the country's highest judicial council looking into state security crimes.


According to the constitution, after announcing the resignation, the prime minister goes to Baabda Palace, the seat of the Presidency of the Republic, to present it to the President, after which the latter issues a decree to dismiss her and then assign her to conduct business.


Before Diab announced his resignation, Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni submitted his resignation, becoming the fourth minister to resign after the huge Beirut port explosion, which left about 160 people dead and more than 6 thousand wounded, and caused massive destruction in the Lebanese capital.


My weight was preceded by: Minister of Justice Marie-Claude Negm, Minister of Environment Damianus Kattar, and Minister of Information Manal Abdel Samad. Against the background of overwhelming popular anger, it demands the drop of all political structures in the country.


The Lebanese government consists of 20 ministers. Under the law, more than a third of its members must resign for a ruling to be dropped.


Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera correspondent Johnny Tanios, from the vicinity of the Beirut Parliament, said that a new round of demonstrations continues for the third day in a row near Parliament.


The reporter added that the security forces are adopting the same tactic, which is letting the demonstrators express their anger and throw stones at the police and burn rubber tires, in order to absorb their anger and announce the word expected for Hassan Diab's resignation.


Yesterday, Mary Najm demanded - during a meeting between Diab and the ministers - for the resignation of the government in a unified solidarity manner.


It is noteworthy that the Minister of Environment and Administrative Development, Demianus Kattar, is part of the share of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and one of his closest relatives, and it was reported that the direct reason for his resignation was the death of his children's friends in the massive bombing.


He said - in a statement of resignation - that "in front of the horror of the tragedy, the bending of the souls of the innocent victims, solidarity with the wounded and the injured and their families, and sensitivity to the pain of the families of the missing, and sympathy with all those affected, and with the horizon of solutions blocked by the impact of futile tensions, and in light of the mechanisms of a sterile and flabby system that lost many From the opportunities, and in response to my convictions and conscience, I decided to submit my resignation from the government. "


Before a train, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad resigned, whom MP Talal Arslan called and had the approval of former MP Walid Jumblatt.


Manal said of the reasons for her resignation, "I apologize to the Lebanese who were unable to fulfill their aspirations. Change remained elusive, and since the reality did not match the ambitions, and after the horror of the Beirut disaster, I submit my resignation from the government."


The prime minister held successive and marathon meetings with ministers, which lasted for long hours to discourage them from resigning, and asked them to slow down in making decisions. Industry Minister Imad Hoballah (affiliated with Hezbollah) went out to announce that "there is no resignation and the government is steadfast and will continue to work."



Yesterday was the day of resignation par excellence, as MPs Dima Al-Jamali (Future Movement), Henry Helou (Progressive Socialist Party headed by Jumblatt), Michel Moawad and Naama Afram (they were in the bloc headed by Gebran Bassil and withdrew from it after the October 17 protests) First last).


These representatives joined: Marwan Hamadeh (Progressive Socialist), the Lebanese Kataeb Party bloc, which includes party leader Sami Gemayel, and two other deputies, Nadim Gemayel and Najib Hanash.


Independent MP Paula Yacoubian also announced her resignation, and tweeted, "To the nation’s representatives, let us leave the parties of power clinging to the chairs, and let us go together on Monday to resignations from the Council of impotence and disappointment. The opposition from within is no longer useful .. Do not let your voters down."


Lebanon’s ambassador to Jordan, Tracy Chamoun, also submitted her resignation, live on air, on one of the Lebanese stations.


On the other hand, the official Lebanese "National News Agency" reported that the government today referred the file of the Beirut Port explosion to the Judicial Council, which is the highest judicial authority in the country that examines cases affecting state security.


The agency stated that the referral was based on a proposal from the resigned Minister of Justice, Marie Claude Negm, who participated in the cabinet session held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hassan Diab.


The Judicial Council - according to what is mentioned on the Lebanese Army website - is generally competent to deal with crimes against the security of the state, including crimes that undermine national unity or disturb the serenity between the elements of the nation or undermine the state’s financial standing, and crimes of weapons and ammunition and encroachment on the state. Civil rights and duties.