Lebanese PM says only way out of crisis is holding early elections - statement

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Saturday he would request early parliamentary elections to defuse an escalating political crisis following the catastrophic explosion at the port of Beirut.

"We cannot get out of this crisis without early parliamentary elections," he said, reading a statement. He added he was not to blame for the country's deep economic and political woes.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)