By Martin Longden, Head of Mission of the British Embassy Beirut

There have been better times to be head of the British Embassy in Lebanon. The crises buffeting this wonderful and troubled country – from the port explosion, to the Covid pandemic, to the economic collapse – have dulled Lebanon’s shine, impoverishing the people and putting both state institutions and the private sector under intolerable pressure. With no prospect in sight of a government capable of gripping the situation, Lebanon’s situation looks increasingly precarious.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday warned that spending from the central bank's obligatory reserve of foreign currencies "has started."

“The President, the caretaker prime minister, the finance minister and the central bank governor bear the responsibility for eradicating what is left of depositors’ money,” Geagea said in a tweet.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement deputy chief Mustafa Alloush has suggested that “the country will collapse and disintegrate before the government’s formation” should the current political course continue as it is.

In a TV interview, Alloush also noted that the presence of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri outside Lebanon is “a lot more important than his presence in the country.”

The issue of PM-designate Saad Hariri’s resignation is not pressing anymore and Hariri will return to Beirut within 48 hours, sources close to him have said.

“Things are still in the hands of President Michel Aoun regarding the possibility of forming a mission-driven government without a blocking one-third and the ball is in his court,” the sources added, in remarks to OTV.

The Free Patriotic Movement called Saturday for unveiling who “brought and used” the ammonium nitrate shipment that caused the August 2020 disaster in Beirut, a day after the judge leading the probe said he will pursue senior politicians and former and current security chiefs in the case.

“The Movement stresses the right of the Lebanese to know the full truth about the Beirut port explosion,” the FPM said in a statement issued after a periodic e-meeting for its political bureau.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has called for “accountability and closure” regarding the catastrophic 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut.

“As we approach the sad anniversary of the port blast, we join you in calling for accountability and closure, first and foremost for the victims, but more broadly for everyone who wants to turn the page on the old way of doing business,” Shea said.

Former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and ex-public works minister Ghazi Zoaiter have issued a joint statement saying they are ready to be questioned by lead investigative judge Tarek al-Bitar in the Beirut port blast probe.

Noting that they heard about the judge’s request to question them through the media, Khalil and Zoaiter said that they are both ready to appear before Bitar even before a permission is issued by parliament to have their immunity lifted.

Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Friday confirmed the presence in the country of three cases of the highly-contagious Delta variant of coronavirus.

Hassan also advised citizens and residents above 30 who opted not to take the AstraZeneca jab to take any available vaccine.

The Lebanese judge leading the investigation into last year's massive explosion at Beirut's port announced Friday he intends to pursue senior politicians and former and current security chiefs in the case, and requested permission for their prosecution, state media reported.

The move -- two days before the 11-month anniversary of the horrific blast -- was praised by families of the victims and survivors as a bold step by Bitar, whose predecessor was removed following legal challenges by two former ministers he had accused of negligence that led to the explosion.

President Michel Aoun expressed on Friday his deep gratitude to Pope Francis for the day of prayer and meditation for Lebanon.

He affirmed that the Lebanese of all sects have great respect for the Holy See and will respond to the Pope’s call to save their treasured homeland.