Of the city lebanons Health Minister says theres been a very high number of casualties the blast wave from the explosion of course extensive damage to buildings within a large radius of the blast site kilometers away people felt lost including aljazeera say in a honda who is on the line for us now from Beirut Center just remind us of way you were and what happened when that blast struck. Was i dont know i dont see a problem that is trying to negotiate a way towards the port areas in it can you hear me its adrian on. Clearly chaos there is in a can you hear me its adrian youve been on the telephone or you but i was in a cab which winery. Now on the line is dropped again obviously as i was saying it is incredibly busy there the mobile phone networks inundated with people trying to work to call loved ones to contact loved ones loved ones to make sure that the safe will try to reestablish contact with xena and get it back on the line as they go back sorry you were you were in a queue were
On a better path so i think right now its going to be about you know counting the losses and i think we havent scratched the surface yet have a good start to many thanks have. Found out of beirut reports it is 1800 hours g. M. T. Hello im Adrian Finighan this is aljazeera if youve just joined us theres been a huge explosion and lebanons capital beirut at least 10 people have been killed Lebanese Security Officials Say the blast was triggered by explosive material that was stored in a warehouse in the force area which is at the heart of the sense here lebanons president has called an emergency meeting of the Prime Minister has called a national day of mourning on what the state the head of the Lebanese Red Cross says that hundreds of injured people have been taken to hospital but that many people are still trapped in the homes the cause of the blast is still on clear at the moment israel however has issued a statement denying any involvement. Omar shelby is a criminal justice analyst he
He discusses the future the middle east and the role of the u. S. His remarks are part of an event hosted by the atlantic counsel. He spoke for about an hour and 15 minutes. [inaudible conversations] is its a great pleasure to welcome you all this afternoon to the atlantic counsel. I am fred kempe president and ceo and this event marks the beginning of an Important New Initiative that the Council Introduction in the first public event around our first ambassador in residence at the Brent Scowcroft center for International Security at the center. There are a lot of reasons why the atlantic counsel was delighted to have been able to bring on board israels former ambassador to the u. S. Michael oren starting february 1 so we are getting him here just surely after he began at the atlantic counsel. In the press release that we circulated late in january i said the following. Quote ambassador oren brings to the council the powerful mixture of a top historians knowledge, the highest level dip
As part of a fact-finding mission to the Middle East in late 2007, one year after Hezbollah concluded a war with Israel, we spent a few days with Hezbollah. I knew that Hezbollah carried heavy baggage, could be threatening, and operated as a state within a state, but it never seemed, as bludgeoning reports insisted,