Lebanon's government resigns amid mounting pressure

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab submitted his resignation Monday, capitulating to the demands of protestors in the wake of last week's deadly blast in Beirut. 

Diab accused Lebanon's ruling political class of using his government as a scapegoat, saying the "forces of corruption were too strong and united against us."

"Between Lebanon and change is a very strong barrier," he said. 

Diab said the political class saw his Cabinet as a threat, stuck in their ways of preventing reforms. 

Five ministers submitted their resignations in the lead up to Diab's announcement, piling pressure him to dissolve his government that has been mired with controversies since coming to power in January. 

Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm, Environment Minister Demianos Kattar and Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad, all submitted their resignations in the leadup, expressing their inability to continue in the roles following the explosion that killed over 160 people and wounded more than 6,000. 

Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni, who's affiliated with Speaker Nabih Berri's Amala Movement, also submitted his resignation.  

A day before the blast, Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti submitted his resignation only to be replaced hours after by the former Ambassador to Venezuela Charbel Wehbe. 

On Sunday, a flurry of resignations rocked Lebanon's parliament, adding to the number of departures that were announced Saturday. 

MPs Michel Moawad, Dima Jamali and Henri Helou announced they were stepping down while calling for early elections.