BEIRUT (NNA) – Lebanon’s President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received the written resignation of Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, at 8:00 AM today, at the Presidential Palace.

During the meeting, lasting about thirty minutes, General Aoun discussed with the Prime Minister the general conditions in the country and the developments resulting from the recent explosion in the port of Beirut. Aoun requested Diab to remain in office until a new government is formed.

As he left the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Diab told journalists nothing more than “God protect Lebanon, that’s all I can say”.

The General Director of the Presidency, Dr. Antoine Choucair, read the following statement:

The General Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic issued the following: Pursuant to provisions of Clause 1 of Article 69 of the Constitution, relating to cases in which the Government is considered resigned, especially provisions pf Paragraph A of the aforementioned clause, and in view of the resignation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Hassan Diab, His Excellency the President of the Republic thanked the Prime Minister and the ladies and gentlemen ministers, and asked them to continue conducting business, pending the formation of a new Government.