france24--2020-08-10--US health secretary meets Taiwan's president on breakthrough trip

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , left , listens as Taiwan 's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a meeting in Taipei , Taiwan , on August 10 , 2020 .
A US cabinet member met Taiwan ’ s leader Monday during the highest level visit from the United States since it switched diplomatic recognition from the island to China in 1979 , a trip that Beijing has condemned .
Health Secretary Alex Azar is in Taipei for a three-day visit to promote shared democratic values and the island ’ s success in taming the coronavirus .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States and China are in tumult , with the two sides clashing over a wide range of trade , military and security issues , as well as the pandemic .
China , which insists Taiwan is its own territory and vows to one day reclaim it , has described Azar ’ s visit as a threat to “ peace and stability ” .
On Monday morning , Azar met President Tsai Ing-wen , who advocates the island being recognised as a sovereign nation and is loathed by China ’ s leaders .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been among the most successful in the world , and that is a tribute to the open , transparent , democratic nature of Taiwan ’ s society and culture , ” Azar told Tsai .
Tsai thanked the US for supporting its bid to be part of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , a body Beijing keeps the island frozen out of .
“ Political considerations should never take precedence over the rights to health , ” Tsai said , calling Beijing ’ s refusal to let Taiwan join “ highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s criticism when asked about Beijing ’ s anger over his visit .
“ The message that I bring from the US government is one of reaffirming the deep partnership the United States has with Taiwan in terms of security , commerce , health care and shared common values of democracy , economic freedom and liberty , ” he told reporters before his meeting with Tsai .
Azar has previously been critical of Beijing ’ s response to the coronavirus , which began in central China , as well as the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
“ ( Taiwan ) knew very early on ... to not trust some of the assertions coming out of there ( Beijing ) or validation from the World Health Organization , ” he said .
As well as meeting Tsai , Azar will hold talks with his counterpart Chen Shih-chung and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu .
Taiwan has become a poster child for defeating the coronavirus thanks to a well-honed track and tracing programme as well as firm border controls .
Despite its proximity and economic links to China it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven deaths .
In contrast the US has recorded the most deaths in the world with more than 160,000 fatalities .
Critics have accused US President Donald Trump of ramping up criticism of China as a way to divert from growing public anger over his administration ’ s coronavirus response , especially as he fights for re-election in November .
Washington remains the leading arms supplier to Taiwan but has historically been cautious in holding official contacts with it .
Throughout the 1990s the United States sent trade officials to Taiwan with regularity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American Institute in Taiwan , Washington ’ s de facto embassy , said the Trump administration was still paying heed to China ’ s red line—that no US official handling national security visit Taiwan .
The difference this time , he said , is the context , with Azar travelling at a time when relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a new low .
“ Sending him to Taiwan shows respect for the old framework while putting a finger in China ’ s eye at the same time , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t choose to send a national security advisor or someone else suggests they are trying to come as close as possible to China ’ s red line but don ’ t want to cross it.
” The last cabinet minister to visit Taiwan was in 2014 when the then head of the Environmental Protection Agency led a delegation .
But Washington has billed Azar ’ s visit as the highest level trip made by a senior administration official since the diplomatic switch .

A US cabinet member met Taiwan’s leader Monday during the highest level visit from the United States since it switched diplomatic recognition from the island to China in 1979, a trip that Beijing has condemned.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, listens as Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, on August 10, 2020.
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Health Secretary Alex Azar is in Taipei for a three-day visit to promote shared democratic values and the island’s success in taming the coronavirus.
His trip comes as relations between the United States and China are in tumult, with the two sides clashing over a wide range of trade, military and security issues, as well as the pandemic.
China, which insists Taiwan is its own territory and vows to one day reclaim it, has described Azar’s visit as a threat to “peace and stability”.
On Monday morning, Azar met President Tsai Ing-wen, who advocates the island being recognised as a sovereign nation and is loathed by China’s leaders.
Wheels down in Taipei. Our @HHSGov delegation disembarked wearing masks and tested negative for COVID-19.
Honored to be here to convey our support for #Taiwan and their global health leadership. pic.twitter.com/Kwqh2uefhc — Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) August 9, 2020
“Taiwan’s response to COVID-19 has been among the most successful in the world, and that is a tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan’s society and culture,” Azar told Tsai.
Tsai thanked the US for supporting its bid to be part of the World Health Organization (WHO), a body Beijing keeps the island frozen out of.
“Political considerations should never take precedence over the rights to health,” Tsai said, calling Beijing’s refusal to let Taiwan join “highly regrettable”.
Azar brushed off China’s criticism when asked about Beijing’s anger over his visit.
“The message that I bring from the US government is one of reaffirming the deep partnership the United States has with Taiwan in terms of security, commerce, health care and shared common values of democracy, economic freedom and liberty,” he told reporters before his meeting with Tsai.
Azar has previously been critical of Beijing’s response to the coronavirus, which began in central China, as well as the WHO.
It was a theme he repeated on Monday.
“(Taiwan) knew very early on... to not trust some of the assertions coming out of there (Beijing) or validation from the World Health Organization,” he said.
As well as meeting Tsai, Azar will hold talks with his counterpart Chen Shih-chung and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
Testing China
Taiwan has become a poster child for defeating the coronavirus thanks to a well-honed track and tracing programme as well as firm border controls.
Despite its proximity and economic links to China it has recorded fewer than 500 infections and seven deaths.
In contrast the US has recorded the most deaths in the world with more than 160,000 fatalities.
Critics have accused US President Donald Trump of ramping up criticism of China as a way to divert from growing public anger over his administration’s coronavirus response, especially as he fights for re-election in November.
Washington remains the leading arms supplier to Taiwan but has historically been cautious in holding official contacts with it.
Had a productive meeting with @SecAzar & the @HHSGov delegation. Thank you to @POTUS and @SecPompeo for supporting the #TaiwanModel & our international participation. Working together, we can prove that democracy is the best system to overcome global challenges. pic.twitter.com/8qztU4ClOK — 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) August 10, 2020
Throughout the 1990s the United States sent trade officials to Taiwan with regularity.
Douglas Paal, a former head of the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington’s de facto embassy, said the Trump administration was still paying heed to China’s red line—that no US official handling national security visit Taiwan.
The difference this time, he said, is the context, with Azar travelling at a time when relations between Washington and Beijing have hit a new low.
“Sending him to Taiwan shows respect for the old framework while putting a finger in China’s eye at the same time,” Paal said.
“The fact that they didn’t choose to send a national security advisor or someone else suggests they are trying to come as close as possible to China’s red line but don’t want to cross it.”
The last cabinet minister to visit Taiwan was in 2014 when the then head of the Environmental Protection Agency led a delegation.
But Washington has billed Azar’s visit as the highest level trip made by a senior administration official since the diplomatic switch.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-10--Australia's internal borders to stay shut as Covid-19 daily toll reaches record

An essential worker wearing a face mask walks past a 'Heroes Wear Masks ' sign in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , on July 23 , 2020 .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said internal border closures were unlikely to lift before Christmas , as the country on Monday reported a record single day rise in COVID-19 deaths .
There was , however , some evidence that drastic lockdown measures in the city of Melbourne were having an effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Victoria slowing to a near two week low .
“ I am more hopeful of that today than I was in the course of the past week , ” Morrison told reporters in Canberra , as he called on state leaders to cooperate to allow stranded residents to return home .
Australia ’ s federal political system has led to its eight states and territories taking different measures in response to the crisis , resulting in several internal border closures .
Victoria state , which is home to Melbourne , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epicentre of its second coronavirus wave , reported 19 people had died from the virus over the past 24 hours .
With some other states still to report daily new case and death numbers , that already marks the country ’ s biggest single day rise in fatalities .
However , Victoria officials also reported 322 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours , the lowest single day rise in new infections since July 29 .
Melbourne , home to nearly 5 million people , has been in lockdown since early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes and business shuttered .
State Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday he understood frustrations but declined to put an end date on the lockdown .
“ If I could paint you a picture that had any kind of reliability for next week , let alone five weeks away , then , of course , I would , ” Andrews said during a televised media conference .
With around 21,000 COVID-19 cases and 314 deaths , Australia has still recorded fewer infections and fatalities than many other developed nations .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , when it was swift to close its international border , impose social distancing restrictions and implement mass virus testing .
But as the country began to reopen , community transmissions rose significantly in Victoria , where triple digit daily new cases have now been recorded for weeks .
Authorities worry the spike in cases in Victoria has already spread to other states despite border closures .
Australia ’ s most populous state , New South Wales , reported 14 new cases , and no deaths , on Monday .
Twelve cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a person in hotel quarantine after returning from overseas , leaving one case with no known links .

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said internal border closures were unlikely to lift before Christmas, as the country on Monday reported a record single day rise in COVID-19 deaths.
An essential worker wearing a face mask walks past a 'Heroes Wear Masks' sign in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on July 23, 2020.
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There was, however, some evidence that drastic lockdown measures in the city of Melbourne were having an effect, with daily new infections in the state of Victoria slowing to a near two week low.
“I am more hopeful of that today than I was in the course of the past week,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra, as he called on state leaders to cooperate to allow stranded residents to return home.
Australia’s federal political system has led to its eight states and territories taking different measures in response to the crisis, resulting in several internal border closures.
Victoria state, which is home to Melbourne, the country’s second biggest city and the epicentre of its second coronavirus wave, reported 19 people had died from the virus over the past 24 hours. With some other states still to report daily new case and death numbers, that already marks the country’s biggest single day rise in fatalities.
However, Victoria officials also reported 322 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest single day rise in new infections since July 29.
Face coverings do not remove the need for physical distancing. You must continue to ensure that you are 1.5m from people not in your household and #StayHome as much as possible. Info: https://t.co/nFUVb4hTHy #COVIDVic pic.twitter.com/j7dEksO12y — VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 9, 2020
Melbourne, home to nearly 5 million people, has been in lockdown since early July, with people largely confined to their homes and business shuttered.
State Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday he understood frustrations but declined to put an end date on the lockdown.
“If I could paint you a picture that had any kind of reliability for next week, let alone five weeks away, then, of course, I would,” Andrews said during a televised media conference.
With around 21,000 COVID-19 cases and 314 deaths, Australia has still recorded fewer infections and fatalities than many other developed nations.
It was considered a global leader early in the pandemic, when it was swift to close its international border, impose social distancing restrictions and implement mass virus testing.
But as the country began to reopen, community transmissions rose significantly in Victoria, where triple digit daily new cases have now been recorded for weeks.
Authorities worry the spike in cases in Victoria has already spread to other states despite border closures.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, reported 14 new cases, and no deaths, on Monday. Twelve cases were linked to known clusters while another was a person in hotel quarantine after returning from overseas, leaving one case with no known links.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-09--UK could stop official Covid death count over claims of 'exaggeration'

FILE PHOTO : Nurses care for victims of the coronavirus in Surrey , Britain , May 22 , 2020 .
The UK 's official COVID-19 daily death count could be scrapped following an investigation into Public Health England 's method of counting the toll , The Telegraph newspaper reported .
The conclusions of the investigation , which was ordered by Health Secretary Matt Hancock after it emerged officials were `` exaggerating '' virus deaths , are expected this week , the newspaper said .
One recommendation could be to move to a weekly official death toll instead , a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its daily update of the death toll last month and the government ordered a review into how Public Health England reports coronavirus deaths , after academics said the daily figures may include people who died of other causes .
Academics in a blog post had warned that the way the government health agency calculated the figures was skewed as patients who tested positive for coronavirus , but are successfully treated , will still be counted as dying from the virus `` even if they had a heart attack or were run over by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England 's death figures vary substantially from day to day due to this reason , the academics had argued .
In contrast , the other parts of the United Kingdom do not follow the same approach .
There is a cut-off threshold of 28 days in Scotland after a positive test , after which a patient is not automatically considered to have died from the virus .
Britain , one of the countries hardest hit by the virus , reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday , its highest daily increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases past 310,000 .

The UK's official COVID-19 daily death count could be scrapped following an investigation into Public Health England's method of counting the toll, The Telegraph newspaper reported.
FILE PHOTO: Nurses care for victims of the coronavirus in Surrey, Britain, May 22, 2020.
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The conclusions of the investigation, which was ordered by Health Secretary Matt Hancock after it emerged officials were "exaggerating" virus deaths, are expected this week, the newspaper said.
One recommendation could be to move to a weekly official death toll instead, a government source told the Telegraph.
Britain paused its daily update of the death toll last month and the government ordered a review into how Public Health England reports coronavirus deaths, after academics said the daily figures may include people who died of other causes.
Academics in a blog post had warned that the way the government health agency calculated the figures was skewed as patients who tested positive for coronavirus, but are successfully treated, will still be counted as dying from the virus "even if they had a heart attack or were run over by a bus three months later".
England's death figures vary substantially from day to day due to this reason, the academics had argued.
In contrast, the other parts of the United Kingdom do not follow the same approach. There is a cut-off threshold of 28 days in Scotland after a positive test, after which a patient is not automatically considered to have died from the virus.
Britain, one of the countries hardest hit by the virus, reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, its highest daily increase since June, taking the total number of cases past 310,000.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-10--Lebanese PM announces government’s resignation over Beirut blast

In this photo published by the Lebanese Government , Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab delivers a speech at the Government House in Beirut , Lebanon , on Saturday , March .
7 , 2020 .
Lebanon ’ s prime minister stepped down from his job on Monday in the wake of the disastrous Beirut port explosion that triggered public fury , saying he has come to the conclusion that corruption in Lebanon is “ bigger than the state.
” In a brief televised speech after three of his ministers resigned , Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that he is taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can stand with the people “ and fight the battle for change alongside them ” .
“ I declare today the resignation of this government .
May God protect Lebanon , ” he said , repeating the last phrase three times .
“ Diab ’ s resignation seems unlikely to appease protesters who have been calling for a complete overhaul of the country ’ s confessional political system , said FRANCE 24 ’ s Leila Molana-Allen reporting from Beirut shortly after the prime minister ’ s televised address .
`` Protests erupted since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There had been protests even before that , but it started to get quite violent over the past half-hour , ” said Molana-Allen .
“ Protesters seem to have lost their sense of fear , there ’ s a fearlessness in the air now .
It ’ s clear from the reaction to Hassan Diab ’ s resignation that they don ’ t just want a change in government , they mean this system , under which they believe it ’ s completely impossible to achieve a government that will actually look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The prime minister ’ s resignation was accepted by Lebanese President Michel Aoun , who asked the current government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed , a televised announcement said .
Based on past experience , such as the October 2019 resignation of Saad Hariri as prime minister , Molana-Allen explained that Diab ’ s cabinet could “ remain in place as a caretaker government and then the current parliament , which was elected in 2018 , looks and tries to elect another prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Responding to the Lebanese cabinet resignation , France on Monday called for the `` rapid formation '' of a new government .
`` The aspirations expressed by the Lebanese in terms of reforms and governance must be heard , '' French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement , adding that a new government would have to `` prove itself '' to the people .
Diab ’ s resignation throws Lebanon into another period of uncertainty amid urgent calls for reform .
It follows a weekend of anti-government protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion in Beirut ’ s port that decimated the facility and caused widespread destruction , killing at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others .
The moment typified Lebanon ’ s political dilemma .
Since October , there have been mass demonstrations demanding the departure of the entire sectarian-based leadership over entrenched corruption , incompetence and mismanagement .
But the ruling oligarchy has held onto power for so long - since the end of the civil war in 1990 - that it is difficult to find a credible political figure not tainted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt politicians who preceded him for the “ earthquake ” that has hit Lebanon .
“ They ( political class ) should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster that had been hidden for seven years , ” he added .
“ I have discovered that corruption is bigger than the state and that the state is paralysed by this ( ruling ) clique and can not confront if or get rid of it , ” Diab , who was a university professor at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job .
Although Diab ’ s resignation had appeared inevitable after the catastrophe , he seemed unwilling to leave and only two days ago made a televised speech in which he offered to stay on for two months to allow for various factions to agree on a roadmap for reforms .
But the pressure from within his own Cabinet proved to be too much .
Diab ’ s government was formed after his predecessor , Saad Hariri , stepped down in response to the demonstrations .
It took months of bickering among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diab .
His government , which was supported by Hezbollah and its allies and seen as one-sided , was basically doomed from the start , tasked with meeting demands for reform but made up of all the factions that reformers want out .
Now the process must start again , with Diab ’ s government in a caretaker role as the same factions debate a new one .
“ I hope that the caretaking period will not be long because the country can not take that .
Lets hope a new government will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Michel Najjar told reporters .
“ An effective government is the least we need to get out of this crisis.
” The weekend protests saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters .
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a 2,750-ton stockpile of highly volatile ammonium nitrate .
The material had been stored at the port since 2013 with few safeguards despite numerous warnings of the danger .
The result was a disaster Lebanese blame squarely on their leadership ’ s corruption and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are estimated to be between $ 10 billion to $ 15 billion , with nearly 300,000 people left homeless .
The last decision taken by Diab ’ s government before its resignation was to refer the case of the explosion to the Supreme Judicial Council , which handles crimes infringing on Lebanon ’ s national security as well as political and state security crimes .
The Supreme Judicial Council is Lebanon ’ s top judicial body .
A judge on Monday questioned the heads of the country ’ s security agencies .
Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tony Saliba , the head of State Security , according to state-run National News Agency .
It gave no further details , but other generals are scheduled to be questioned .
State Security had compiled a report about the dangers of storing the material at the port and sent a copy to the offices of the president and prime minister on July 20 .
The investigation is focused on how the ammonium nitrate came to be stored at the port and why nothing was done about it .
Najjar , the public works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material ’ s presence 24 hours before the blast , receiving a report about the material and holding a meeting with port officials before calling its chief , Hassan Korayetem .
“ I wrote a report in the morning the explosion happened in the evening , ” Najjar said .
Asked why he only learned of it the day before , Najjar said , “ I don ’ t know .
Truly I don ’ t know.
” About 20 people have been detained after the blast , including the head of Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the head of the port .
Dozens of people have been questioned , including two former Cabinet ministers , according to government officials .
On Sunday , world leaders and international organizations pledged nearly $ 300 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Beirut , but warned that no money for rebuilding the capital would be made available until Lebanese authorities commit themselves to the political and economic reforms demanded by the people .
Iran , meanwhile , expressed concern that Western countries and their allies might exploit anger over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iran supports the Hezbollah militant group , which along with its allies dominates the government and parliament .
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said “ it is natural for people to be frustrated ” .
But he said it would be “ unacceptable if some individuals , groups and foreign countries use the incident as a pretext for their purposes and intentions.
” Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz drew a line Monday between the blast and claims that Hezbollah stores its rockets and weapons deep inside civilian areas .
While he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being linked to the blast , Gantz said villages and towns across Lebanon were packed with Hezbollah arms that , if set off - whether by Israeli operations or by accident - would destroy homes .
He said Hezbollah was Lebanon ’ s biggest problem .

Lebanon’s prime minister stepped down from his job on Monday in the wake of the disastrous Beirut port explosion that triggered public fury, saying he has come to the conclusion that corruption in Lebanon is “bigger than the state.”
In this photo released by Lebanon's official government photographer Dalati Nohra, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, receives a letter of resignation from Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, at the presidential palace, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, on August 10, 2020.
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In a brief televised speech after three of his ministers resigned, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that he is taking “a step back” so he can stand with the people “and fight the battle for change alongside them”.
“I declare today the resignation of this government. May God protect Lebanon,” he said, repeating the last phrase three times.
“Diab’s resignation seems unlikely to appease protesters who have been calling for a complete overhaul of the country’s confessional political system, said FRANCE 24’s Leila Molana-Allen reporting from Beirut shortly after the prime minister’s televised address.
"Protests erupted since just before Hassan Diab’s speech. There had been protests even before that, but it started to get quite violent over the past half-hour,” said Molana-Allen.
“Protesters seem to have lost their sense of fear, there’s a fearlessness in the air now. It’s clear from the reaction to Hassan Diab’s resignation that they don’t just want a change in government, they mean this system, under which they believe it’s completely impossible to achieve a government that will actually look after the needs of the Lebanese people.”
04:38
The prime minister’s resignation was accepted by Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who asked the current government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed, a televised announcement said.
Based on past experience, such as the October 2019 resignation of Saad Hariri as prime minister, Molana-Allen explained that Diab’s cabinet could “remain in place as a caretaker government and then the current parliament, which was elected in 2018, looks and tries to elect another prime minister who then puts a new cabinet together”.
Responding to the Lebanese cabinet resignation, France on Monday called for the "rapid formation" of a new government. "The aspirations expressed by the Lebanese in terms of reforms and governance must be heard," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement, adding that a new government would have to "prove itself" to the people.
Anti-government protests
Diab’s resignation throws Lebanon into another period of uncertainty amid urgent calls for reform. It follows a weekend of anti-government protests in the wake of the Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut’s port that decimated the facility and caused widespread destruction, killing at least 160 people and injured about 6,000 others.
The moment typified Lebanon’s political dilemma. Since October, there have been mass demonstrations demanding the departure of the entire sectarian-based leadership over entrenched corruption, incompetence and mismanagement.
04:06
But the ruling oligarchy has held onto power for so long - since the end of the civil war in 1990 - that it is difficult to find a credible political figure not tainted by connections to them.
Blame pinned on predecessors
Diab blamed corrupt politicians who preceded him for the “earthquake” that has hit Lebanon.
“They (political class) should have been ashamed of themselves because their corruption is what has led to this disaster that had been hidden for seven years,” he added.
“I have discovered that corruption is bigger than the state and that the state is paralysed by this (ruling) clique and cannot confront if or get rid of it,” Diab, who was a university professor at the American University of Beirut before he took the job.
Although Diab’s resignation had appeared inevitable after the catastrophe, he seemed unwilling to leave and only two days ago made a televised speech in which he offered to stay on for two months to allow for various factions to agree on a roadmap for reforms. But the pressure from within his own Cabinet proved to be too much.
11:24
Bickering leadership
Diab’s government was formed after his predecessor, Saad Hariri, stepped down in response to the demonstrations. It took months of bickering among the leadership factions before they settled on Diab.
His government, which was supported by Hezbollah and its allies and seen as one-sided, was basically doomed from the start, tasked with meeting demands for reform but made up of all the factions that reformers want out. Now the process must start again, with Diab’s government in a caretaker role as the same factions debate a new one.
“I hope that the caretaking period will not be long because the country cannot take that. Lets hope a new government will be formed quickly,” Public Works Minister Michel Najjar told reporters. “An effective government is the least we need to get out of this crisis.”
The weekend protests saw clashes with security forces firing tear gas at protesters.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by a fire that ignited a 2,750-ton stockpile of highly volatile ammonium nitrate. The material had been stored at the port since 2013 with few safeguards despite numerous warnings of the danger.
The result was a disaster Lebanese blame squarely on their leadership’s corruption and neglect. Losses from the catastrophic blast are estimated to be between $10 billion to $15 billion, with nearly 300,000 people left homeless.
Blast case referred to top judicial body
The last decision taken by Diab’s government before its resignation was to refer the case of the explosion to the Supreme Judicial Council, which handles crimes infringing on Lebanon’s national security as well as political and state security crimes. The Supreme Judicial Council is Lebanon’s top judicial body.
A judge on Monday questioned the heads of the country’s security agencies. Public Prosecutor Ghassan El Khoury questioned Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, the head of State Security, according to state-run National News Agency. It gave no further details, but other generals are scheduled to be questioned.
State Security had compiled a report about the dangers of storing the material at the port and sent a copy to the offices of the president and prime minister on July 20. The investigation is focused on how the ammonium nitrate came to be stored at the port and why nothing was done about it.
Najjar, the public works minister, said he learned about the material’s presence 24 hours before the blast, receiving a report about the material and holding a meeting with port officials before calling its chief, Hassan Korayetem.
“I wrote a report in the morning the explosion happened in the evening,” Najjar said. Asked why he only learned of it the day before, Najjar said, “I don’t know. Truly I don’t know.”
About 20 people have been detained after the blast, including the head of Lebanon’s customs department and his predecessor, as well as the head of the port. Dozens of people have been questioned, including two former Cabinet ministers, according to government officials.
International aid
On Sunday, world leaders and international organizations pledged nearly $300 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Beirut, but warned that no money for rebuilding the capital would be made available until Lebanese authorities commit themselves to the political and economic reforms demanded by the people.
Iran, meanwhile, expressed concern that Western countries and their allies might exploit anger over the explosion to pursue their political interests. Iran supports the Hezbollah militant group, which along with its allies dominates the government and parliament.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said “it is natural for people to be frustrated”. But he said it would be “unacceptable if some individuals, groups and foreign countries use the incident as a pretext for their purposes and intentions.”
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz drew a line Monday between the blast and claims that Hezbollah stores its rockets and weapons deep inside civilian areas.
While he did not accuse Hezbollah and its arms of being linked to the blast, Gantz said villages and towns across Lebanon were packed with Hezbollah arms that, if set off - whether by Israeli operations or by accident - would destroy homes. He said Hezbollah was Lebanon’s biggest problem.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-08-10--Trump escorted out of White House briefing after ‘shooting’ outside grounds

US President Donald Trump talks with a secret service agent before leaving a Covid-19 briefing at the White House in Washington , D.C. , August 10 , 2020 .
The US Secret Service abruptly escorted President Donald Trump out of the White House press room in the middle of a briefing on Monday because of a shooting outside the White House .
Trump returned to the media room several minutes later and said a person had been shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital .
He said he understood the suspect had been armed .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump said .
“ It seems to be very well under control .
...
But there was an actual shooting , and somebody has been taken to the hospital .
I don ’ t know the condition of the person.
” He said the shooting was near the fence at the edge of the White House grounds .
The Secret Service said in a tweet “ the investigation into a USSS officer involved shooting is ongoing .
A male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.
” The doors to the White House briefing room were locked shortly before Trump was escorted out .
Nobody else was wounded in the shooting , Trump said .
He praised the Secret Service response and said the agency would have more details on the event later .
“ There were no details — we just found out just now , ” Trump told reporters .
The president had been speaking about the stock market when a Secret Service agent interrupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefing .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room .
Trump told reporters he had been taken to the Oval Office , which is in the West Wing near the briefing room , after he was escorted out .

The US Secret Service abruptly escorted President Donald Trump out of the White House press room in the middle of a briefing on Monday because of a shooting outside the White House.
US President Donald Trump talks with a secret service agent before leaving a Covid-19 briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., August 10, 2020.
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Trump returned to the media room several minutes later and said a person had been shot by law enforcement and taken to the hospital. He said he understood the suspect had been armed.
“It was a shooting outside of the White House,” Trump said. “It seems to be very well under control. ... But there was an actual shooting, and somebody has been taken to the hospital. I don’t know the condition of the person.”
He said the shooting was near the fence at the edge of the White House grounds.
The US Secret Service said late on Monday that the White House was not breached during the incident and no one under Secret Service protection was ever in danger.
The Secret Service said in a tweet “the investigation into a USSS officer involved shooting is ongoing. A male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital. At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.”
Update: the investigation into a USSS officer involved shooting is ongoing. A male subject and a USSS officer were both transported to a local hospital. At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger. — U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) August 10, 2020
The doors to the White House briefing room were locked shortly before Trump was escorted out.
Nobody else was wounded in the shooting, Trump said. He praised the Secret Service response and said the agency would have more details on the event later.
“There were no details — we just found out just now,” Trump told reporters.
The president had been speaking about the stock market when a Secret Service agent interrupted him at the podium only minutes into the briefing.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room.
Trump told reporters he had been taken to the Oval Office, which is in the West Wing near the briefing room, after he was escorted out.
The Secret Service said that the Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility will be conducting an internal review of the officer’s actions and the Metropolitan Police Department was contacted to conduct an investigation.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-10--Fresh protests over presidential election leave one dead in Belarus

Belarusian law enforcement officers detain people during a rally of opposition supporters following the presidential election in Minsk , Belarus August 10 , 2020 .
At least one person died as Belarusian police clashed with protesters on Monday after the opposition accused President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging his re-election victory amid a chorus of criticism from Western leaders .
Police fired tear gas and stun grenades and used batons to disperse thousands of people in Minsk in a second night of violence .
Protesters set up barricades in several parts of the capital .
One man died while trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that blew up in his hands , the government said .
Local media reported clashes breaking out in other towns .
In power for more than a quarter of a century , Lukashenko claimed a landslide win against Svetlana Tikhanouskaya , a former English teacher who emerged from obscurity to lead the biggest challenge to his rule in years .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the vote was “ not free and fair ” and condemned “ ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters.
” Foreign observers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fair in Belarus since 1995 , and the run-up to the vote saw authorities jail Lukashenko ’ s rivals and open criminal investigations of others who voiced opposition .
Events are being closely watched by Russia , whose oil exports run through Belarus to the West and which has long regarded the country as a buffer zone against NATO , and by the West , which has tried to lure Minsk from Moscow ’ s orbit .
Germany called for the European Union to discuss sanctions on Belarus that were lifted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday urged “ the greatest restraint ” in Belarus after the security forces cracked down on protesters .
“ We watch with concern the violence against Belarusian citizens who demonstrated after the closing of polling stations and call for the greatest restraint , ” the French foreign ministry said in a statement .
Russian President Vladimir Putin used a congratulatory telegram to nudge Lukashenko to accept deeper ties between the two nations , which the Belarusian leader has previously rejected as an assault on his country ’ s independence .
Riot police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of protesters who had gathered to denounce what they said was an electoral farce .
Tikhanouskaya , whose campaign rallies drew some of the biggest crowds since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 , told reporters she considered herself the election winner .
“ The authorities are not listening to us .
The authorities need to think about peaceful ways to hand over power , ” said Tikhanouskaya , who entered the race after her blogger husband was jailed .
“ Of course we do not recognise the results.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold talks with the authorities .
There was no immediate response to that offer from Lukashenko , a former Soviet collective farm manager who has kept Belarus under tight control since 1994 .
He faces discontent over his handling of the economy , the Covid-19 pandemic and human rights abuses .
But Lukashenko signalled he would not step down .
“ The response will be appropriate .
We won ’ t allow the country to be torn apart , ” the 65-year-old leader was quoted by the Belta news agency as saying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were trying to manipulate protesters he called “ sheep ” in order to topple him , something he said he would never allow .
“ They are trying to orchestrate mayhem , ” said Lukashenko .
“ But I have already warned : there will be no revolution.
” The European Union ’ s foreign policy chief and its commissioner for enlargement said the election had been marred by “ disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters ” .
“ We condemn the violence and call for the immediate release of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Josep Borrell and Oliver Varhelyi said in a joint statement .
Neighbouring Poland said it wants a special EU summit on Belarus .

At least one person died as Belarusian police clashed with protesters on Monday after the opposition accused President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging his re-election victory amid a chorus of criticism from Western leaders.
Belarusian law enforcement officers detain people during a rally of opposition supporters following the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus August 10, 2020.
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Police fired tear gas and stun grenades and used batons to disperse thousands of people in Minsk in a second night of violence. Protesters set up barricades in several parts of the capital.
One man died while trying to throw an unidentified explosive device at police that blew up in his hands, the government said. Local media reported clashes breaking out in other towns.
In power for more than a quarter of a century, Lukashenko claimed a landslide win against Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, a former English teacher who emerged from obscurity to lead the biggest challenge to his rule in years.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the vote was “not free and fair” and condemned “ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters.”
Foreign observers have not judged an election to be free and fair in Belarus since 1995, and the run-up to the vote saw authorities jail Lukashenko’s rivals and open criminal investigations of others who voiced opposition.
Events are being closely watched by Russia, whose oil exports run through Belarus to the West and which has long regarded the country as a buffer zone against NATO, and by the West, which has tried to lure Minsk from Moscow’s orbit.
Germany called for the European Union to discuss sanctions on Belarus that were lifted in 2016 to foster better relations.
France on Monday urged “the greatest restraint” in Belarus after the security forces cracked down on protesters.
“We watch with concern the violence against Belarusian citizens who demonstrated after the closing of polling stations and call for the greatest restraint,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used a congratulatory telegram to nudge Lukashenko to accept deeper ties between the two nations, which the Belarusian leader has previously rejected as an assault on his country’s independence.
Riot police used force on Sunday night to disperse thousands of protesters who had gathered to denounce what they said was an electoral farce.
Tikhanouskaya, whose campaign rallies drew some of the biggest crowds since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, told reporters she considered herself the election winner.
“The authorities are not listening to us. The authorities need to think about peaceful ways to hand over power,” said Tikhanouskaya, who entered the race after her blogger husband was jailed. “Of course we do not recognise the results.”
‘No revolution’
The opposition said it was ready to hold talks with the authorities. There was no immediate response to that offer from Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm manager who has kept Belarus under tight control since 1994.
He faces discontent over his handling of the economy, the Covid-19 pandemic and human rights abuses. But Lukashenko signalled he would not step down.
“The response will be appropriate. We won’t allow the country to be torn apart,” the 65-year-old leader was quoted by the Belta news agency as saying.
Lukashenko repeated allegations that shadowy forces abroad were trying to manipulate protesters he called “sheep” in order to topple him, something he said he would never allow.
“They are trying to orchestrate mayhem,” said Lukashenko. “But I have already warned: there will be no revolution.”
The European Union’s foreign policy chief and its commissioner for enlargement said the election had been marred by “disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters”.
“We condemn the violence and call for the immediate release of all (those) detained during last night,” Josep Borrell and Oliver Varhelyi said in a joint statement.
Neighbouring Poland said it wants a special EU summit on Belarus.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-10--Mauritius braced for ‘worst case scenario’ over oil tanker leak, says PM

A volunteer is seen in the leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio , belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged , that ran aground on a reef , at Riviere des Creoles , Mauritius , August 10 , 2020 .
A Japanese ship that ran aground on a reef off Mauritius two weeks ago has now stopped leaking oil into the Indian Ocean but the island nation must still prepare for `` a worst case scenario '' , Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said late on Monday .
Conservationists said they were starting to find dead fish as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing fears of an ecological catastrophe despite a massive local cleanup operation that includes making floating booms from leaves and human hair .
Jugnauth said the leak from a damaged oil tank on board the stricken vessel , the MV Wakashio , had stopped but that it still had 2,000 tonnes of oil in two other , undamaged tanks .
`` The salvage team has observed several cracks in the ship hull , which means that we are facing a very serious situation , '' Jugnauth said in a televised speech , parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his office .
`` We should prepare for a worst case scenario .
It is clear that at some point the ship will fall apart . ''
Mauritius has declared a state of emergency and former colonial ruler France has sent aid in what environmental group Greenpeace said could be a major ecological crisis .
Japan has also sent help .
Tourism is a major contributor to the Mauritius economy , generating 63 billion rupees ( $ 1.6 billion ) last year .

A Japanese ship that ran aground on a reef off Mauritius two weeks ago has now stopped leaking oil into the Indian Ocean but the island nation must still prepare for "a worst case scenario", Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said late on Monday.
A volunteer is seen in the leaked oil from the bulk carrier ship MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground on a reef, at Riviere des Creoles, Mauritius, August 10, 2020.
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Conservationists said they were starting to find dead fish as well as seabirds covered in oil, increasing fears of an ecological catastrophe despite a massive local cleanup operation that includes making floating booms from leaves and human hair.
Jugnauth said the leak from a damaged oil tank on board the stricken vessel, the MV Wakashio, had stopped but that it still had 2,000 tonnes of oil in two other, undamaged tanks.
"The salvage team has observed several cracks in the ship hull, which means that we are facing a very serious situation," Jugnauth said in a televised speech, parts of which were made available to Reuters by his office.
"We should prepare for a worst case scenario. It is clear that at some point the ship will fall apart."
Mauritius has declared a state of emergency and former colonial ruler France has sent aid in what environmental group Greenpeace said could be a major ecological crisis. Japan has also sent help.
Tourism is a major contributor to the Mauritius economy, generating 63 billion rupees ($1.6 billion) last year.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-10--Face masks now compulsory in Paris tourist hotspots amid second-wave fears

A woman wears a protective face mask at the Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris as France reinforces mask-wearing as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) across the country , August 9 , 2020 .
Face masks became mandatory in tourist hotspots in Paris on Monday as French authorities imposed new measures to curb a rise in coronavirus infections .
The order covers busy outdoor areas in the French capital including the banks of the River Seine and the iconic Montmartre area in Paris ’ s far north – although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eiffel Tower , the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élyseés were not listed .
Anybody aged 11 faces a €135 ( $ 159 ) fine if caught without a mask where one is required .
The requirement came as France along with much of Western Europe swelters in a heatwave , with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius ( 95 F ) .
France is one of several European countries to have seen a spike in new Covid-19 infections over recent weeks , prompting fears of a second wave .
It reported 2,288 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high , with the seven-day moving average at 1,486 , a level unseen since late April .
People have been required to wear face masks in all enclosed public spaces in France since July 21 .
The latest uptick in Covid-19 cases has been most marked in Paris but some other cities including Nice , Toulouse , Biarritz , Marseille and Lille have already ordered people to wear masks in busy outdoor areas .
Several coastal towns popular with tourists – including Le Touquet in the Calais region , Saint-Malo on Brittany ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Atlantic coast – have done the same .
Yet for some tourists braving the heat on the streets of Paris , the rules listing specific zones are not clear enough .
`` We 're tourists so we do n't know in which zones we 're required to wear a mask , '' Dominico Ditoma , a French tourist visiting Montmartre with his family , told Reuters .
`` We assume it 's for tourist spots but there are no signs so it 's quite unclear . ''
A foreign tourist who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertain , telling Reuters : `` I 've heard about it , it starts this morning , but I do n't know about the zones , I do n't know how to get informed . ''
Paris council official Audrey Pulvar defended the complex mask map - which is available on the city 's website - saying that it was `` evolving '' and based on criteria such as people 's ability in a given space to comply with social-distancing rules .
`` That 's why , in certain streets , parts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not , '' Pulvar told French media network BFM TV .

Face masks became mandatory in tourist hotspots in Paris on Monday as French authorities imposed new measures to curb a rise in coronavirus infections.
A woman wears a protective face mask at the Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris as France reinforces mask-wearing as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the country, August 9, 2020.
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The order covers busy outdoor areas in the French capital including the banks of the River Seine and the iconic Montmartre area in Paris’s far north – although other renowned tourist hotspots such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élyseés were not listed. Anybody aged 11 faces a €135 ($159) fine if caught without a mask where one is required.
The requirement came as France along with much of Western Europe swelters in a heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius (95 F).
France is one of several European countries to have seen a spike in new Covid-19 infections over recent weeks, prompting fears of a second wave. It reported 2,288 new infections last Friday, a new post-lockdown high, with the seven-day moving average at 1,486, a level unseen since late April.
People have been required to wear face masks in all enclosed public spaces in France since July 21.
Marked uptick
The latest uptick in Covid-19 cases has been most marked in Paris but some other cities including Nice, Toulouse, Biarritz, Marseille and Lille have already ordered people to wear masks in busy outdoor areas. Several coastal towns popular with tourists – including Le Touquet in the Calais region, Saint-Malo on Brittany’s northern coast, and La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast – have done the same.
Yet for some tourists braving the heat on the streets of Paris, the rules listing specific zones are not clear enough.
"We're tourists so we don't know in which zones we're required to wear a mask," Dominico Ditoma, a French tourist visiting Montmartre with his family, told Reuters. "We assume it's for tourist spots but there are no signs so it's quite unclear."
A foreign tourist who gave her name as Angelica was also uncertain, telling Reuters: "I've heard about it, it starts this morning, but I don't know about the zones, I don't know how to get informed."
Paris council official Audrey Pulvar defended the complex mask map - which is available on the city's website - saying that it was "evolving" and based on criteria such as people's ability in a given space to comply with social-distancing rules.
"That's why, in certain streets, parts are affected by the measure and parts are not," Pulvar told French media network BFM TV.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-10--Yemen: Heavy rains threaten Sanaa’s ancient homes

Workers clear debris on the roof of a partially collapsed building in Sanaa 's Old City on August 8 , 2020 .
They have been called an “ extraordinary masterpiece ” of early Islamic architecture , but after years of disrepair , the ravages of war and now months of heavy rains the ancient mud brick houses of Yemen ’ s UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa are collapsing .
On Friday , August 7 , one house partially collapsed as Sanaa was battered by rain , leaving a family including six children with nowhere to live .
`` Six women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we do n't have anywhere else to go , no friend , no relative except God .
Save us with a room or a bathroom , our house is in danger of collapsing , ” homeowner Muhammad Ali al-Talhi told Reuters .
More than 100 homes have seen their roofs partially collapse , say local authorities , while more than 2,000 have leaks and two abandoned buildings have collapsed completely .
`` We had 129 red-flagged buildings and now the number has grown and is likely to grow even more because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consecutive rainfall and the negligence by homeowners have all contributed negatively , ” said Khaled al-Ibrahimi , head of Sanaa ’ s Historic Cities Preservation Authority .
“ We could see up to 200 homes [ destroyed ] or even up to 500 if we count the homes with cracks and other minor issues.
” The more than 6,000 distinctive red and white houses of Sanaa ’ s Old City date back to before the 11th century .
Built from rammed earth , many are several storeys high and elaborately decorated .
Efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNESCO funds but local authorities are appealing for more help to save the houses before it is too late .
“ We call on them through your channel and other media channels to help us since this city is a world heritage site and can be considered a piece of humanity 's heritage , ” said al-Ibrahimi .
A five-year long war in Yemen between the government and Houthi rebels has killed more than 100,000 people .
Exceptionally heavy rains in recent weeks have added to the crisis , causing widespread flooding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and malaria .

They have been called an “extraordinary masterpiece” of early Islamic architecture, but after years of disrepair, the ravages of war and now months of heavy rains the ancient mud brick houses of Yemen’s UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa are collapsing.
Workers clear debris on the roof of a partially collapsed building in Sanaa's Old City on August 8, 2020.
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On Friday, August 7, one house partially collapsed as Sanaa was battered by rain, leaving a family including six children with nowhere to live.
"Six women and six children live in this house, we don't have anywhere else to go, no friend, no relative except God. Save us with a room or a bathroom, our house is in danger of collapsing,” homeowner Muhammad Ali al-Talhi told Reuters.
More than 100 homes have seen their roofs partially collapse, say local authorities, while more than 2,000 have leaks and two abandoned buildings have collapsed completely.
"We had 129 red-flagged buildings and now the number has grown and is likely to grow even more because the weather hasn't stabilised yet and the consecutive rainfall and the negligence by homeowners have all contributed negatively,” said Khaled al-Ibrahimi, head of Sanaa’s Historic Cities Preservation Authority.
“We could see up to 200 homes [destroyed] or even up to 500 if we count the homes with cracks and other minor issues.”
The more than 6,000 distinctive red and white houses of Sanaa’s Old City date back to before the 11th century. Built from rammed earth, many are several storeys high and elaborately decorated.
Efforts are underway to preserve the buildings using UNESCO funds but local authorities are appealing for more help to save the houses before it is too late.
“We call on them through your channel and other media channels to help us since this city is a world heritage site and can be considered a piece of humanity's heritage,” said al-Ibrahimi.
A five-year long war in Yemen between the government and Houthi rebels has killed more than 100,000 people.
Exceptionally heavy rains in recent weeks have added to the crisis, causing widespread flooding and spreading diseases including cholera, dengue fever and malaria.
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france24--2020-08-10--Investigation: The rising number of Mozambique’s internally displaced people (2/2)

The number of internally displaced people has doubled in the past five months in Cabo Delgado , a province in northern Mozambique .
Thousands of people have fled a violent insurrection by a group of Islamist militants with ties to the Islamic State ( IS ) group and are now living in overcrowded camps or the homes of friends or relatives .
Humanitarian organizations on the ground are calling for more assistance .
Since October 2017 , a group of armed Islamist militants -- known locally as Al Shabaab , though they have no ties to the better-known Somali group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violent attacks on the resource-rich province of Cabo Delgado .
In the past three years , more than 1,400 people have been killed in these attacks , according to the NGO The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project ( Acled ) , which is working to document the situation in the province .
The attacks have intensified this year .
Between March and June , insurgents seized numerous villages as well as the local capitals in the districts of Mocimboa da Praia , Quissanga , Muidumbe and Macomia .
Photos posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings and abandoned government buildings .
Thousands of people have fled , by land and sea .
In July , there were 250,000 internally displaced people in Cabo Delgado , double the number in March , according to the UN ’ s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( Ocha ) .
That represents close to 10 percent of the population of this province , which is home to 2.3 million people .
Many of the displaced people fled to the coastal city of Pemba , which is the capital of Cabo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or family but their living conditions are precarious and they lack food .
The UN World Food Program ( WFP ) is currently trying to come up with a strategy to help the rising number of displaced persons .
They hope to provide assistance to nearly 200,000 people in August .
By September , they hope to establish a system of vouchers that can be redeemed in local shops .
The WFP says in this tweet that they helped 112,728 internally displaced persons in Cabo Delgado in June and an additional 8,030 people @ @ @

MOZAMBIQUE
The photo on the left shows a group called Ukhavihera distributing food in Pemba. The photo on the right shows an organization called the Islamic Community of Mozambique (known by the acronym CIMO) handing out food in the district of Quissanga. Photos: Geo
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The number of internally displaced people has doubled in the past five months in Cabo Delgado, a province in northern Mozambique. Thousands of people have fled a violent insurrection by a group of Islamist militants with ties to the Islamic State (IS) group and are now living in overcrowded camps or the homes of friends or relatives. Humanitarian organizations on the ground are calling for more assistance.
Since October 2017, a group of armed Islamist militants-- known locally as Al Shabaab, though they have no ties to the better-known Somali group-- have been carrying out a series of violent attacks on the resource-rich province of Cabo Delgado. In the past three years, more than 1,400 people have been killed in these attacks, according to the NGO The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), which is working to document the situation in the province.
>> READ ON THE OBSERVERS : Thousands flee Islamist insurgents in North Mozambique (1/2)
250,000 internally displaced people in Cabo Delgado
The attacks have intensified this year. Between March and June, insurgents seized numerous villages as well as the local capitals in the districts of Mocimboa da Praia, Quissanga, Muidumbe and Macomia. Photos posted online show charred ruins of homes and buildings and abandoned government buildings. Thousands of people have fled, by land and sea.
In July, there were 250,000 internally displaced people in Cabo Delgado, double the number in March, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha). That represents close to 10 percent of the population of this province, which is home to 2.3 million people. Many of the displaced people fled to the coastal city of Pemba, which is the capital of Cabo Delgado. Many are staying with friends or family but their living conditions are precarious and they lack food.
The UN World Food Program (WFP) is currently trying to come up with a strategy to help the rising number of displaced persons. They hope to provide assistance to nearly 200,000 people in August. By September, they hope to establish a system of vouchers that can be redeemed in local shops.
#winningwednesday: No mountain high, no valley low, no river wide enough, no bridge too far, to keep @WFP #Mozambique from #Savinglives of conflict-affected people, in Cabo Delgado. In June, 112,728 internally displaced persons assisted in Cabo and 8,030 in Nampula, with #Food pic.twitter.com/KcnWyML01J WFP Mozambique (@wfp_mozambique) July 22, 2020
The WFP says in this tweet that they helped 112,728 internally displaced persons in Cabo Delgado in June and an additional 8,030 people in Nampula.
"The need is great and aid doesn’t reach all of the displaced people”
Several residents of Pemba have also been working to help the displaced people. Georginelta Eurosia Eduardo teamed up with other young people to launch "Ukhavihera," which means "help,” to deliver essential goods to people in need. The group offered assistance to Miguel Momade, who fled the town of Quissanga with his family, including several children, after it was attacked in late March (Momade shared his story in part one of this investigation.)
Thanks to donations, Eduardo’s organisation has already helped four family groups, a total of 92 people.
There are nearly 40,000 displaced people in Pemba, many of them women, children and the elderly. Some have been there for the past six months, but most of them arrived more recently. Most of them are staying with friends or family. Sometimes 10 or 20 or even 30 people will be crowded into someone else’s home. The government and international aid organisations have a presence there, but the need is great and the assistance doesn’t reach everyone. Our group, which is made up of volunteers, talks to displaced families that come to Pemba and we identify their needs. Do they need food, clothing, shoes or a proper place to sleep? We’ve partnered with a foundation here in Pemba, and with their help, as well as with some donations we’ve received, we distribute food, personal hygiene kits and clothing. We try to help these families start little businesses so they don’t have to rely solely on donations. For example, we bought equipment for some families so they could make cakes and sell them.
Ukhavihera, a group made up of young volunteers, distribute supplies to displaced people in Pemba. This photo was originally posted on Instagram by Georginelta Eurosia Eduardo.
"Today, we urgently need food and tents”
In the neighboring district of Metuge, not far from Pemba, the provincial government set up five shelters that are now housing 10,000 people. Many of the tents on site were supplied by humanitarian organisations like the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), which housed victims of Cyclone Kenneth last year. Other people built their own shelters with whatever they had lying around.
Metuge District Host Center for IDPs, Cabo Delgado, experiencing diarrhea due to inadequate food intake and hygiene - via @news_pinnacle
Shifting pressures as a result of the violence be it within or outside the conflict area putting strain on Government's interventions. pic.twitter.com/KG2KTtETvf Jasmine Opperman (@Jasminechic00) June 22, 2020
In June, Jasmine Opperman, an analyst with the NGO Acled, posted these photos taken by Pinnacle News in the shelters for displaced people in Metuge.
The diocese of Pemba and Caritas, a Catholic relief organisation, regularly brings aid to these camps. But taking care of victims of conflicts is complex, says the Bishop of Pemba Luiz Fernando Lisboa:
It’s easier to count the number of displaced people in the district of Metuge because, unlike in Pemba, most of them are living together in the same sites. Several different actors are involved in the camps and work with the authorities. However, most living conditions do not meet minimum standards of decency. Recently, the provincial government made sure water was available on site. However, there aren’t enough shelters. Sometimes, two or three families are crowded together in the same tent. It’s impossible for people to maintain social distancing in these places, even though we are in the midst of a global pandemic [On July 27, Mozambique had recorded 1,701 positive coronavirus cases and 11 deaths]. We distributed masks but that doesn’t solve the problem. Today, we urgently need food and tents. We speak with these people often, and we are putting together a team that will provide psychosocial support for them because many are traumatized. Many also need medical care. Some walked through the wilderness for days and were injured. We also met a teenage mother who gave birth to her baby on the road, after fleeing her town. Mozambique is going to need help from the international community to rebuild. We are hopeful that this conflict will end.
The Bishop of Pemba and the Catholic relief organization Caritas provide aid in a camp for displaced persons in Metuge district in June
Valige Tauabo, the governor of the province of Cabo Delgado, delivered food aid to the families of displaced people in Metuge.
According to the Mozambican Institute for the Management of Natural Disasters (INGC), a further 8,000 people, including nearly 4,400 children, have fled to the neighboring province of Nampula. On July 14, the government of Nampula announced the opening of a special centre for displaced people. The provincial government also says it will provide land for displaced people to farm. Roughly 87 percent of the displaced people are farmers. Another centre for displaced persons will soon be opened in the province of Niassa.
Aid groups, including CIMO (the Islamic Community of Mozambique), hand out food to people displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado on July 26 in Nampula.
However, many organizations say that a large number of displaced persons haven’t been counted yet, or are currently living in zones that are difficult to access. The Islamic Community of Mozambique (CIMO), which plays an active role in providing humanitarian assistance to displaced people in Cabo Delgado and Nampula, has expressed worries about the people who didn’t leave the affected districts and surviving in extremely difficult circumstances.
Members of CIMO fill boats with food for the extremely vulnerable people who were unable to leave Quissanga after it was attacked. (Photo shared with the France 24 Observers by CIMO.)
"The people who stayed behind now must sleep in the marsh at night”
Maulana Mansur, a member of CIMO, met with survivors in Quissanga, the site of many attacks:
It was a risky trip because the zone isn’t safe. We travelled from Pemba to Arimba by boat, carrying seven tons of humanitarian aid. I saw nearly 350 burned homes with my own eyes [The CIMO shared numerous photos of burned homes]. There were no more shops, nothing. The people who had stayed behind were sleeping in the marsh at night. Those who stayed behind were too old or too poor to flee. For the past few weeks, no one travelled to these zones, and so people left their shelters to fish or search for water. We were able to provide flour, rice, oil and clothes to nearly 3,000 people. Next, we went to the island of Quisiui, where we met about a hundred families. We saw homes that had been burned there as well. Finally, we went to the island of Ibo, which was a bit safer because there was a military presence there. Many people who had fled attacks in other parts of the district came to this island, so that is where we saw the most people. All in all, our mission took three days. I have never seen anything like it. There were also a lot of reports of missing people. We met a woman who was searching for a member of her family. She gave us his name, but for the time being, we haven’t been able to find him.
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The CIMO mission to Quissanga took three days. These photos wer published by CIMO on Facebook in early June.
No international or regional aid
Despite repeated attempts, Mozambique hasn’t managed to control the situation in Cabo Delgado. In May, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recognized that the insurrection in Mozambique posed a threat to the entire region. But, for the time being, there hasn’t been any regional or international intervention.
In an interview with French broadcaster RFI in July, researcher Martin Rupiya from the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), said that SADC should be "officially asked to intervene".
"The countries wait until the last minute before turning towards this institution. They try other techniques first, like using private security companies, because no one wants to see this region categorized as a conflict zone,” he explained. Essentially, Mozambique engaged a private security company, whose helicopters are used in the fight against the insurgents.
In a recent article, Jasmine Opperman, an analyst at the NGO Acled said that the response of the Mozambican security forces so far were characterized by "coercive tactics and human rights violations”. A regional intervention using these same methods could destroy the trust within affected communities.
In an interview with RFI in July, Martin Rupiya also agreed that the military option alone wouldn’t be enough: “There is need for investment to create infrastructure, employment and restore hope".
Article by Maëva Poulet


france24--2020-08-10--‘I can’t sleep, I can’t even cry’: NGO worker on rebuilding Beirut after blast

NGOs are working tirelessly to rebuild Beirut after last week ’ s devastating explosion , with French President Emmanuel Macron urging donors to act quickly at an impromptu UN virtual conference on Sunday .
FRANCE 24 spoke to Patricia Khoder , a Beirut native working for the NGO Care , about the challenge of delivering effective aid in this shattered city .
Less than a week after one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history – which left more than 150 dead and around 6,000 injured – the emergency services are still trying to find survivors .
NGO staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an influx of international aid to the Lebanese capital .
Khoder took time out of her busy schedule to tell FRANCE 24 about the situation on the ground .
What was your personal experience of the explosion on Tuesday ?
I was in the Care offices – in the business district in central Beirut – when it all happened .
We heard two big explosions , and we actually thought there was some sort of attack on our building .
Then we went outside and saw this huge mushroom cloud in the sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ port and I could see that the districts of Gemmayzé , Achrafiyé , Dora and Mar Mikhael had been blown away – that there was nothing really left there .
I put the news on straight away , and I soon realised that Beirut was gone , that my city had been destroyed .
I grew up in those neighbourhoods .
All of my youth was there .
I ’ m still in shock .
I ’ m so numb I can ’ t really feel anything .
I ’ ve only slept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I can ’ t sleep , I can ’ t even cry ; I still haven ’ t really processed what happened .
Every day I ’ ve found out that someone I knew – of whom I was fond – has died , or that some beloved part of the city has been wiped off the map .
It will take a lot of time before I can come to terms with all the destruction and start to mourn .
My work with Care has helped me cope .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Tuesday .
Our task of raising funds and delivering food for Beirut is what matters most to me now .
> > ‘ Beirut is destroyed , my heart is broken ’ : Locals in despair over Lebanon blast What work have you been doing for the NGO since the blast ?
Usually I work as a communications manager , but I have been in the field for two days distributing food for the worst-affected neighbourhoods .
These areas are being gentrified , but a lot of poor people still live there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere else to go .
We have started distributing food parcels containing rice , flour , pasta and tinned food that you can just eat straight away – seeing as many people in Beirut don ’ t have a kitchen or even a home any more .
So we ’ ve started with food , but there are plenty of other things we hope to distribute .
There are so many things Lebanon needs straight away : medicine ( two hospitals were blown up ) , clothes , beds etc .
We also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is a glass shortage because all the windows in Beirut have been shattered and there isn ’ t enough glass in the country to meet the demand .
In the meantime , people are putting up cardboard boxes and plexiglass – while others don ’ t even have the means to do that , and are sleeping in their homes without roofs or windows , staying there so looters don ’ t rob them of what little they have left .
And there are many people who no longer have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people living on the streets .
But in two months , the first rains will fall , and it will be freezing cold .
We will have to find solutions for those people .
> > The strange history of the chemical cargo that caused the Beirut blast How do you see the future unfolding ?
I don ’ t think about the future .
Like my city , I have no tomorrow .
There ’ s something about trauma like this which makes it impossible for you to project yourself forward in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I saw that resilience the day after the explosion , when people were out clearing the streets , clearing the debris .
It is very difficult to break the will of the Lebanese .
This doesn ’ t make our daily lives any easier .
I lived through the civil war in Beirut but I never saw anything on this scale .
But what I see around me makes me proud : the solidarity that ’ s arisen from the desire to clean up the mess , rebuild and move forward .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud to be Lebanese .
We ’ ve obviously been heartened by all the messages of support from across the world .
We need all that hope and the courage that goes with it ; we have been living without hope for a long while .
It is the international community that will give it back to us .
That ’ s why it ’ s necessary to give money to NGOs and Lebanese charities to help the country recover .
This article was translated from the original in French .

NGOs are working tirelessly to rebuild Beirut after last week’s devastating explosion, with French President Emmanuel Macron urging donors to act quickly at an impromptu UN virtual conference on Sunday. FRANCE 24 spoke to Patricia Khoder, a Beirut native working for the NGO Care, about the challenge of delivering effective aid in this shattered city.
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Less than a week after one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history – which left more than 150 dead and around 6,000 injured – the emergency services are still trying to find survivors. NGO staff and volunteers are hard at work, amid an influx of international aid to the Lebanese capital. Khoder took time out of her busy schedule to tell FRANCE 24 about the situation on the ground.
What was your personal experience of the explosion on Tuesday?
I was in the Care offices – in the business district in central Beirut – when it all happened. We heard two big explosions, and we actually thought there was some sort of attack on our building. Then we went outside and saw this huge mushroom cloud in the sky. I immediately went down to the port and I could see that the districts of Gemmayzé, Achrafiyé, Dora and Mar Mikhael had been blown away – that there was nothing really left there. I put the news on straight away, and I soon realised that Beirut was gone, that my city had been destroyed. I grew up in those neighbourhoods. All of my youth was there.
I’m still in shock. I’m so numb I can’t really feel anything. I’ve only slept 12 hours in total since the blast. I can’t sleep, I can’t even cry; I still haven’t really processed what happened. Every day I’ve found out that someone I knew – of whom I was fond – has died, or that some beloved part of the city has been wiped off the map. It will take a lot of time before I can come to terms with all the destruction and start to mourn.
My work with Care has helped me cope. I’ve been totally focused on my mission since Tuesday. Our task of raising funds and delivering food for Beirut is what matters most to me now.
>> ‘Beirut is destroyed, my heart is broken’: Locals in despair over Lebanon blast
What work have you been doing for the NGO since the blast?
Usually I work as a communications manager, but I have been in the field for two days distributing food for the worst-affected neighbourhoods. These areas are being gentrified, but a lot of poor people still live there, and they have nothing, with nowhere else to go.
We have started distributing food parcels containing rice, flour, pasta and tinned food that you can just eat straight away – seeing as many people in Beirut don’t have a kitchen or even a home any more. So we’ve started with food, but there are plenty of other things we hope to distribute. There are so many things Lebanon needs straight away: medicine (two hospitals were blown up), clothes, beds etc.
We also lack some essential building materials for reconstruction. There is a glass shortage because all the windows in Beirut have been shattered and there isn’t enough glass in the country to meet the demand. In the meantime, people are putting up cardboard boxes and plexiglass – while others don’t even have the means to do that, and are sleeping in their homes without roofs or windows, staying there so looters don’t rob them of what little they have left.
And there are many people who no longer have a home at all. There are 300,000 people living on the streets. But in two months, the first rains will fall, and it will be freezing cold. We will have to find solutions for those people.
>> The strange history of the chemical cargo that caused the Beirut blast
How do you see the future unfolding?
I don’t think about the future. Like my city, I have no tomorrow. There’s something about trauma like this which makes it impossible for you to project yourself forward in time. But the Lebanese are strong. I saw that resilience the day after the explosion, when people were out clearing the streets, clearing the debris. It is very difficult to break the will of the Lebanese.
This doesn’t make our daily lives any easier. I lived through the civil war in Beirut but I never saw anything on this scale. But what I see around me makes me proud: the solidarity that’s arisen from the desire to clean up the mess, rebuild and move forward. I am proud of my people; proud to be Lebanese.
We’ve obviously been heartened by all the messages of support from across the world. We need all that hope and the courage that goes with it; we have been living without hope for a long while. It is the international community that will give it back to us. That’s why it’s necessary to give money to NGOs and Lebanese charities to help the country recover.
This article was translated from the original in French.
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france24--2020-08-11--Restaurants struggle as Covid-19 keeps customers home

A server sets a table on the patio at Brasserie Liberté in Washington 's Georgetown district during the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
Being inside busy areas with limited ventilation @ @ @ @ @ infection .
As a result , indoor dining has been restricted in many places and @ @ @ @ @ for eating out over virus fears .
FRANCE 24 reports from Washington , DC .
@ @ @ @ @ s tiny Georgetown neighbourhood , restaurants have already seen their revenue drop by 50 to @ @ @ @ @ months since the pandemic forced businesses to shutter to stem the virus .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ a day .
Now , it ’ s about 40 , ” says Didier Palange @ @ @ @ @ 24 ’ s Kethevane Gorjestani , Fanny Allard and Matthieu Mabin report from Washington , @ @ @ @ @ click on the video player above .

SPECIAL REPORT
Restaurants the world over have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Being inside busy areas with limited ventilation increases the risk of Covid-19 infection. As a result, indoor dining has been restricted in many places and many have lost their appetite for eating out over virus fears. FRANCE 24 reports from Washington, DC.
A server sets a table on the patio at Brasserie Liberté in Washington's Georgetown district during the coronavirus pandemic.
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In the American capital’s tiny Georgetown neighbourhood, restaurants have already seen their revenue drop by 50 to 70 percent in the five months since the pandemic forced businesses to shutter to stem the virus.
“We used to serve 300 people a day. Now, it’s about 40,” says Didier Palange of Brasserie Liberté.
FRANCE 24’s Kethevane Gorjestani, Fanny Allard and Matthieu Mabin report from Washington, DC. To watch, click on the video player above.
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france24--2020-08-11--France to step up security for its citizens in Africa's Sahel region, Macron says

France will step up security measures to protect French nationals in Africa 's Sahel region , President Emmanuel Macron said @ @ @ @ @ after six French aid workers were shot dead in Niger .
`` We will do @ @ @ @ @ the families of the victims and to respond to the attack that cost the lives @ @ @ @ @ and two Nigeriens .
These six young people , who were members of the NGO @ @ @ @ @ commitment to the local population , '' Macron tweeted .
`` I have decided to @ @ @ @ @ our citizens in the region .
We will continue in our action to eradicate the @ @ @ @ @ increased support of our partners . ''

France will step up security measures to protect French nationals in Africa's Sahel region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday, two days after six French aid workers were shot dead in Niger.
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"We will do everything we can to support the families of the victims and to respond to the attack that cost the lives of six of our compatriots and two Nigeriens. These six young people, who were members of the NGO 'ACTED', showed extraordinary commitment to the local population," Macron tweeted.
"I have decided to step up security measures for our citizens in the region. We will continue in our action to eradicate the terrorist groups, with the increased support of our partners."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-11--Britain says it wants more flexibility to send illegal migrants back to France

A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover , England , from small boats , on August 8 , 2020 .
Britain said on Tuesday it wanted greater flexibility to return illegal immigrants back to France after a surge in the number of people embarking on the perilous journey across the English Channel in the hope of a better life .
Hundreds of people , including some children , have been caught crossing to southern England from makeshift camps in northern France since Thursday - many navigating one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in overloaded rubber dinghies .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants to stop the illegal crossings and has dispatched Immigration Minister Chris Philp to Paris for talks with the French government .
Britain says the EU ’ s so-called Dublin Regulation which currently governs the return of illegal immigrants is too inflexible and has very tight timeframes .
Junior health minister Edward Argar said Johnson wanted more flexibility .
“ What he ’ s looking at , quite rightly , is greater flexibility ... in returning people who have come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned back to France , ” Argar told Sky News .
Many of the migrants seeking to reach Britain come from Afghanistan , Iraq , Syria and countries in Africa , fleeing poverty , persecution or war .
Some stand a chance of being granted asylum , while others , considered illegal economic migrants , are unlikely to be allowed to remain in Britain .

Britain and France will work "at pace" to finalise a new plan for shutting down a migrant route across the Channel, British immigration minister Chris Philp said on Tuesday.
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, on August 8, 2020.
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Philp said President Emmanuel Macron's government agreed the high numbers making the illegal crossing were unacceptable.
"It's clear more needs to be done," Philp told reporters in Paris after meeting French officials.
"If we can make this route unviable, which we are determined to do, then migrants will have no reason at all to come to France in the first place."
Hundreds of people, including some children, have been caught crossing to southern England from makeshift camps in northern France since Thursday - many navigating one of the world's busiest shipping routes in overloaded rubber dinghies.
Philp said Paris had agreed to mirror London's move of appointing a special commander to oversee the operation.
Today I was in Dover to see how Border Force and other operational partners are tirelessly dealing with the unacceptable number of illegal small boat crossings.
I am absolutely committed to making this incredibly dangerous route unviable. pic.twitter.com/KGzBd3CR0X — Priti Patel (@pritipatel) August 10, 2020
Asked if Britain was ready to pay France to bolster its policing of the maritime border, the minister said: "We accept this is a shared problem. If a shared plan can be agreed, we would be obviously be prepared to support that ... in all the ways necessary to make it a success."
More than 20 migrants were escorted to Dover on Tuesday by the British border force.
Many of the migrants seeking to reach Britain come from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and countries in Africa, fleeing poverty, persecution or war.
Some stand a chance of being granted asylum, while others, considered illegal economic migrants, are unlikely to be allowed to remain in Britain.
Britain has called for more flexibility to the European Union's so-called Dublin Regulation, which currently governs the return of illegal immigrants.
Organised crime groups offer to help the migrants cross the Channel for around 500 pounds ($650), the Sun newspaper reported, adding that some smugglers offer "kids go free" deals.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-11--Belarus election challenger Tikhanouskaya ‘safe’ in Lithuania

Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanouskaya reacts after casting her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Minsk on August 9 , 2020 .
Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanouskaya is in Lithuania , the foreign minister said on Tuesday , following a second night of clashes after a disputed election in the authoritarian former Soviet republic .
“ She arrived in Lithuania and is safe , ” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP .
President Gitanas Nauseda ’ s office said Tikhanouskaya was “ resting ” in the Baltic state .
“ The president ’ s office is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who arrived in Lithuania .
She is currently resting , ” Nauseda ’ s spokesman Antanas Bubnelis told AFP .
The whereabouts of Tikhanouskaya , a political novice who has claimed victory in Sunday ’ s poll in Belarus against President Alexander Lukashenko , had been unknown as of late Monday in Minsk .
In a video released Tuesday , Tikhanouskaya said that she had made a difficult decision to leave her country for Lithuania .
She indicated she had left Belarus to be with her two children , who had earlier been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their own safety .
“ Children are the most important thing we have in life , ” said the 37-year-old .
“ You know I thought that this campaign had really steeled me and given me the strength to endure everything , ” she said .
“ But I probably remained the weak woman I was at the beginning , ” she said .
“ I know that many will understand me , many will judge me , and many will begin to hate me , ” Tikhanouskaya said .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had.
” “ People please take care of yourselves , ” she said .
“ What is happening now is not worth a single life.
” EU and NATO member Lithuania , which was also once part of the Soviet Union , has a history of granting refuge to Belarusian and Russian opposition figures .
“ Vilnius has a history of Belarusian opposition concentration .
It is also the convenient geographical location because it is close to Minsk , ” Vilnius university analyst Laurynas Jonavicius told AFP .
The Lithuanian capital hosts an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Humanities University , after Lukashenko shut it down in 2004 .
In a show of solidarity with protesters , the city ’ s municipality lit up its four bridges overnight in white-red-white – the historical Belarusian flag used by opposition activists .
One man died in protests in Belarus as thousands took to the streets of the capital Minsk late on Monday , saying Lukashenko had stolen the election from Tikhanouskaya to take a sixth term .
Police used rubber bullets , stun grenades and tear gas but demonstrators fought back with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , AFP reporters , protesters and witnesses said , in chaotic scenes of defiance .

Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanouskaya is in Lithuania, the foreign minister said on Tuesday, following a second night of clashes after a disputed election in the authoritarian former Soviet republic.
Presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanouskaya reacts after casting her ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Minsk on August 9, 2020.
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“She arrived in Lithuania and is safe,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.
President Gitanas Nauseda’s office said Tikhanouskaya was “resting” in the Baltic state.
“The president’s office is in constant contact with Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who arrived in Lithuania. She is currently resting,” Nauseda’s spokesman Antanas Bubnelis told AFP.
The whereabouts of Tikhanouskaya, a political novice who has claimed victory in Sunday’s poll in Belarus against President Alexander Lukashenko, had been unknown as of late Monday in Minsk.
In a video released Tuesday, Tikhanouskaya said that she had made a difficult decision to leave her country for Lithuania.
01:34
She indicated she had left Belarus to be with her two children, who had earlier been taken out of the authoritarian ex-Soviet country for their own safety.
“Children are the most important thing we have in life,” said the 37-year-old.
“You know I thought that this campaign had really steeled me and given me the strength to endure everything,” she said.
“But I probably remained the weak woman I was at the beginning,” she said.
Lukashenko had previously belittled women politicians, saying a woman president “would collapse, poor thing".
“I know that many will understand me, many will judge me, and many will begin to hate me,” Tikhanouskaya said. “But God forbid anyone face the choice I had.”
“People please take care of yourselves,” she said. “What is happening now is not worth a single life.”
History of granting refuge
EU and NATO member Lithuania, which was also once part of the Soviet Union, has a history of granting refuge to Belarusian and Russian opposition figures.
“Vilnius has a history of Belarusian opposition concentration. It is also the convenient geographical location because it is close to Minsk,” Vilnius university analyst Laurynas Jonavicius told AFP.
The Lithuanian capital hosts an EU-funded Belarusian university in exile, the European Humanities University, after Lukashenko shut it down in 2004.
In a show of solidarity with protesters, the city’s municipality lit up its four bridges overnight in white-red-white – the historical Belarusian flag used by opposition activists.
One man died in protests in Belarus as thousands took to the streets of the capital Minsk late on Monday, saying Lukashenko had stolen the election from Tikhanouskaya to take a sixth term.
Police used rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas but demonstrators fought back with stones and fireworks and built makeshift barricades, AFP reporters, protesters and witnesses said, in chaotic scenes of defiance.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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