Agencies / Beirut

Amid widespread public anger at the explosion in Beirut’s port, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab on Monday announced the resignation of the entire government.

The explosion caused widespread destruction, killed at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others.

The decision follows a weekend of anti-government protests that saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.

In a televised address on Monday evening, Mr Diab blamed “systemic” corruption for the devastating blast that has destroyed swathes of the capital, leaving 300,000 people homeless.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a massive pile of ammonium nitrate stored in the port since 2013.

Mr Diab, who was a university professor at the American University of Beirut before he took the job, directed his anger at the country’s political parties and politicians who preceded him, accusing them of hiding the dangerous stockpile for seven years.