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Beirut explosion: Lebanon's government resigns after public backlash

Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab has announced the resignation of the entire government amid widespread public anger at the explosion in Beirut's port that caused widespread destruction, killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others.

It follows a weekend of anti-government protests that saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.

In a televised address on Monday evening, Diab blamed “systemic” corruption for the devastating blast that has destroyed swathes of the capital, leaving 300,000 people homeless.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a pile of ammonium nitrate stored in the port since 2013.

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