Lebanon in free fall, must not become 'horror story', U.S. senator warns

U.S. Senator Christopher S. Murphy attends a news conference at Beirut International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon September 1, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon is in free fall and must not become a "horror story", a U.S. senator said during a visit to Beirut on Wednesday, voicing hope that a government would be formed this week to start addressing its destabilising financial meltdown.

The comment reflected growing concern https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/eu-worried-lebanons-fast-deterioration-says-time-has-run-out-2021-08-26 about the situation in Lebanon, where a financial collapse that began in 2019 hit a crunch point last month with a crippling fuel shortage that sparked security incidents and warnings of worse to come https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanese-security-chief-warns-crisis-could-be-prolonged-2021-08-27.