The Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc met Thursday and signed a joint petition with the Lebanese Forces, al-Mustaqbal bloc, and several independent MPs demanding international investigation into the colossal explosion in Beirut.

“For the sake of the victims of the explosion, and because we have no confidence in any local investigation, and for the sake of the truth, we launched today a parliamentary petition demanding an international investigation into the port explosion in coordination with the Lebanese Forces, al-Mustaqbal, and other MPs,” said leader of the bloc MP Taymour Jumblat.

Lebanon's parliament on Thursday approved a two-week state of emergency imposed by the government after last week's deadly port explosion that gives it legal authority to suppress resurgent protests.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent emergency medical assistance to disaster-hit Lebanon on Thursday, after the massive explosion in the port of Beirut that left more tha 171 dead and wounded at least 7,000 others and left many homeless.

In the southern Lebanese town of Haris, a newlywed couple is living in one of Safy Faqeeh's apartments for free. He's never met them before, and they aren't on a honeymoon. Their apartment in Beirut was wrecked when last week's massive explosion wreaked destruction across the capital.

Faqeeh is one of hundreds of Lebanese who have opened their homes to survivors of the Aug. 4 blast.

The massive blast at Beirut port on August 4 caused more than $15 billion in damages, President Michel Aoun said Wednesday.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday announced that the LF’s 15 lawmakers will not resign from parliament without their allies in al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party.

“Any resignations that would not lead to toppling the current legislature would be a lost effort. If we do such a move, we would be strengthening the current ruling authority instead of weakening it,” Geagea said at a press conference.

Germany stands ready to help Lebanon with reconstruction and further investment after last week's massive explosion, but any support will be linked to economic reforms and an end to pervasive corruption in Lebanon, Germany's foreign minister said Wednesday.

Heiko Maas spoke after a tour of Beirut's devastated port, where thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate exploded Aug. 4, obliterating the facility, killing at least 171 people and wounding thousands in the capital city.

Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Raoul Neheme said Wednesday that Lebanon has wheat reserves sufficient for four months after the massive port explosion that damaged the country’s only large grain silos.

The massive Beirut explosion revived a US legislation bill aimed to impose sanctions on Lebanese officials on charges of “corruption, ties to Hizbullah and violations of human rights,” the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.

For months, US lawmakers and officials have been preparing draft laws and proposals to impose sanctions on Lebanese officials and political bodies because of their direct links with Hizbulah, classified as a terrorist organization in the United States, said the daily.

The U.N. Security Council remains at odds over the way the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon operates on the ground, with the United States backing Israel's demands for major changes.

At a closed council meeting Tuesday on the mission known as UNIFIL, whose mandate is up for renewal at the end of the month, U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft stressed the need for a new mandate.