Enraged protesters storm the streets of Beirut, demand resignation of embattled government

Thousands of protesters crowded the streets of Beirut, demanding the resignation of Lebanon's military government on Saturday. The demonstrators clashed with police and soldiers as they universally blamed for the catastrophic explosion that destroyed the city last Tuesday.

The rally in the capital's Martyrs' Square took to the streets calling for the government to be punished for their negligence that demonstrators say led to Tuesday's massive explosion that killed 158 people and injured more than 6,000.

In a street leading to parliament, young men pelted stones at security forces who replied with tear gas, leaving many people injured.

Thousands of young men and women earlier revived the main camp of a months-long protest movement. Some of them carried the portraits of blast victims and a banner bearing the names of the dead.

The enraged protesters chanted “the people want the fall of the regime”, reprising a popular chant from the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011. They also held posters saying “Leave, you are all killers”.

“You have no conscience, you have no morality. Go home! Leave! Resign, Enough is enough,” shouted a protester. “What else do you want? You brought us poverty, death and destruction,” said another.

According to a spokesperson, a policeman was killed during the clashes. A policeman at the scene said the officer died when he fell into an elevator shaft in a nearby building after being chased by protesters.

The Red Cross said it had treated 117 people for injuries on the scene while another 55 were taken to hospital. Policemen wounded by stones were treated by ambulance workers. A fire also broke out in central Martyrs’ Square during the clash.

On Tuesday, a gigantic explosion was caused by thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate improperly stored at the port for over six years, apparently set off by a fire. According to Beirut’s governor, it was the biggest blast in Lebanon’s history and caused an estimated $10-15 billion worth of damage. It also left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

Lebanon's information minister Manal Abdel Samad on Sunday announced she is stepping down following violent protests in the country.

"After the enormous disaster in Beirut, I present my resignation from the government," she said in a brief televised address. "I apologize to the Lebanese, we were unable to meet their expectations," she said.