PARIS: The United States and France on Thursday emphasised the 鈥渦rgent need鈥� for Lebanon鈥檚 leaders to form a 鈥渃redible and effective government,鈥� six months after a blast devastated Beirut鈥檚 port.
In a joint statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the formation of a government and enactment of reforms were 鈥渃rucial鈥� for the ongoing support of international donors.
鈥淭he six-month anniversary of this tragic event underscores the urgent and vital need for Lebanese stakeholders to finally act upon the commitments they have made to form a credible and effective government, and to pave the way for the implementation of necessary reforms, in accordance with the aspirations of the Lebanese people,鈥� the two top diplomats said.
They said they also expected 鈥渞apid results鈥� from the investigation into the causes of the blast, which killed more than 200 people and gutted a large part of southern Beirut.
France鈥檚 ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, earlier expressed frustration at the delay in shedding light on the disaster.

鈥淪ix months after the explosion, it is unacceptable that the Lebanese people should still be waiting for answers from its leaders,鈥� she said in a statement.
Lebanon鈥檚 cabinet stepped down after the Aug. 4 explosion, but efforts to form a new one have since hit a wall.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has visited Lebanon twice since the blast, has conditioned the triggering of a massive aid plan on the formation of a reform-minded government.
The French government is hoping for backing on the issue from new US President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration.