Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced his government's resignation on Monday, saying a huge explosion that tore through Beirut and caused public outrage was the result of endemic corruption. 

The detonation at a port warehouse of what authorities said was more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate killed at least 163 people, injured more than 6,000 and destroyed swathes of the Mediterranean capital, compounding months of political and economic meltdown. 

"Today we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change," Diab said in a speech announcing the resignation. 

He blamed the blast on corruption by former warlords from the 1975-1990 civil war who have exchanged their military fatigues for suits, or were replaced by relatives. "Their corruption created this tragedy," said Diab. "Between us and change stands a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics." 

The prime minister said corruption did not stop at Beirut port but was "spread throughout the country's political and administrative landscape" under the protection of a "class controlling the fate" of the country.

Before his announcement, four ministers had already decided they could no longer serve a government that has shown little willingness to take the blame or to put state resources at the service of the victims. At least nine lawmakers have also announced they would quit in protest, as have two senior members of the Beirut municipality. 

President Michel Aoun asked Diab's government – formed in January with support from the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies – to stay as a caretaker until a new cabinet is formed. 

Ahead of Diab's announcement, demonstrations broke out for a third day in central Beirut, with some protesters hurling rocks at security forces guarding an entrance leading to parliament, who responded with tear gas. 

The system of government requires Aoun to consult with parliamentary blocs on who should be the next prime minister, and he is obliged to designate the candidate with the greatest level of support among parliamentarians.

Forming a government amid factional rifts has been daunting in the past. Now with growing public discontent with the ruling elite over the blast and a crushing financial crisis, it could be difficult to find a candidate willing to be prime minister. 

After former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stepped down in October 2019 amid anti-government protests over perceived corruption, it took over two months to form Diab's government. 

Diab said on Saturday he would request early parliamentary elections. 

Aoun has said explosive material was stored unsafely for years at the port. In later comments, he said the investigation would consider whether the cause was external interference as well as negligence or an accident. 

The cabinet decided to refer the investigation of the blast to the judicial council, the highest legal authority whose rulings cannot be appealed, a ministerial source and state news agency NNA said. The council usually handles top security cases. 

(With input from Reuters, AFP)

(Cover: Lebanon's Prime Minister Hassan Diab (R) submits his resignation to President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, August 10, 2020. /Reuters)