BEIRUT 9 Aug (ANA) - Lebanon's information minister Manal Abdel Samad announced her resignation, saying Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government failed to live up to the aspirations of the Lebanese people. 

 

At least 728 people have been wounded in clashes with authorities as thousands of protesters hit the streets of central Beirut as riot police fire tear gas at those trying to break through a barrier to the parliament building. One police officer was also reported killed.

 

Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called for early polls after Tuesday's deadly blast, saying it is the only way out of the country's crisis.

 

At least 158 people were killed in the explosion and more than 6,000 others injured, but numbers are expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue for missing people.(ANA)

FA/ANA/9 August 2020------