A state of emergency was declared in Lebanon, after a huge explosion at Beirut's port. The blast was felt in Cyprus, 240km away. It killed at least 135 people, injured 5,000 and left 300,000 homeless. The cause was a fire in a warehouse holding 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in fertiliser and bombs. This highly explosive stockpile had lain neglected for six years. Lebanon's prime minister, Hassan Diab, vowed that those responsible would "pay the price". Lebanon was in an economic and political crisis even before the blast. Israeli aircraft struck military targets in southern Syria, in retaliation for an alleged attempt by militants to plant explosives near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights area, which is also claimed by Syria. The United Arab Emirates began operating the Arab world's first nuclear power plant. The oil-rich uae hopes it will meet a quarter of its electricity needs once it is fully operational. Qatar, a rival, has described the plant as a "flagrant threat to regional peace and environment".
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