World leaders have agreed to meet today to raise fund for Beirut over the explosion. Five days after the massive explosion which devastated the Lebanese capital.The virtual conference - set up by France and the United Nations - starts at 14:00 Lebanon time (11:00 GMT).
US President Donald Trump has said he plans to join the call.Officials estimate the blast at the warehouse, which stored 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, caused up to $15 billion (£11.5bn) in damage.The explosion left at least 158 people dead, 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless.
On Saturday several thousand people took to the streets, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing protesters and some demonstrators storming government ministries.In a televised address, Lebanese PM Hassan Diab said he would ask for early elections as a way out of the crisis. The issue will be discussed in cabinet on Monday.
Lebanon was already mired in a deep economic crisis and struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic before the explosion tore through Beirut.An anti-government protest movement erupted last October, fuelled by the financial situation and a collapsing currency.
On Saturday several thousand people took to the streets, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing protesters and some demonstrators storming government ministries.In a televised address, Lebanese PM Hassan Diab said he would ask for early elections as a way out of the crisis. The issue will be discussed in cabinet on Monday.
Lebanon was already mired in a deep economic crisis and struggling to tackle the coronavirus pandemic before the explosion tore through Beirut.An anti-government protest movement erupted last October, fuelled by the financial situation and a collapsing currency.
A statement from France's presidential palace says Sunday's conference "will aim to mobilize Lebanon's main international partners and to organize and co-ordinate emergency support from the international community". Representatives from European Union member states, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan and the UK will all take part, with many others invited to attend.In a series of tweets, President Trump said he had discussed the "catastrophic event" in Beirut with Mr Macron and would himself join the call.
