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Angry Lebanese Blame Explosion on Political Elites' Corruption, Mismanagement

VOA News

   Angry protesters clashed with police late Thursday in Lebanon's capital
   over the blast that killed more than 130 people earlier in the week.

   Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered near an
   entrance of parliament in central Beirut, after some demonstrators
   burned objects and threw rocks at security forces.

   Many Lebanese blame the disastrous explosion on Lebanon's political
   elites, accusing them of corruption and mismanagement, as the country
   is on the verge of economic collapse.

   Earlier Thursday, Beirut residents expressed their anger against the
   government during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

   Macron is the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon after Tuesday's
   massive blast at the port of Beirut that left large parts of the city
   in a shamble of wrecked buildings, burned-out cars, and dust.

   Macron said he will organize an international conference to raise funds
   for Lebanon but warned Lebanese leaders they will not be getting "blank
   checks," adding that any money to help Beirut recover must come with
   what he calls a "new political order" to replace a "system that no
   longer has the trust of its people."

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