![Beirut explosion [Getty]](/sites/default/files/media/images/0EA47BED-503D-4605-8348-9DF124CC0940.jpg "Beirut explosion [Getty]")
France says failure to probe Beirut blast ‘unacceptable'
France says failure to probe Beirut blast ‘unacceptable'
The French Ambassador to Lebanon has criticised Lebanese officials over their failure to reveal the cause of the port explosion that killed over 200 people.
2 min read
It has been six months since the explosion that killed over 200 people. [Getty]
lambasted the Lebanese authorities Thursday for failing to uncover the causes of a that killed more than 200 people and ravaged swathes of Beirut six months ago.
As families of the victims marked half a year since the deadly August 4 port blast, French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo .
"Six months after the explosion, it is unacceptable that the Lebanese people should still be from its leaders," she said in a statement.
One of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history was caused by that had sat for years in a port warehouse, a stone's throw from residential districts.
More than 20 suspects have been detained as part of Lebanon's investigation into the tragedy, but the probe appears nows to be completely stalled.
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The kind of gamesmanship that has come to characterise Lebanon's ruling class appears to have blocked the special prosecutor's work.
Former colonial power France led the international response to the tragedy, delivering aid in exchange for promises of political reform and accountability.
French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Lebanon twice, including two days after the explosion, and has vowed to visit again soon.
Yet his demands for an overhaul of Lebanon's perennially corrupt politics have fallen on deaf ears.
Nearly six months after the government resigned over the port blast, a new cabinet has yet to be formed and Lebanon's economy is left to continue its free fall.
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Grillo said that six months on from the explosion, "it is unacceptable that Lebanon should still be without a government to tackle the social and sanitary crises, and begin the structural reforms the country needs to recover and stabilise."
Lebanon's top political factions had publicly committed last year to meeting Macron's demands, but have since shown little readiness to change their ways.
"To all this country's leaders, I want to say that your individual and collective responsibility is considerable," Grillo said. "Be brave enough to take action, and France will help you."
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