The Latest: Syria says Beirut blast killed 43 Syrians

BEIRUT (AP) — The latest on the explosion in Beirut (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

Syria’s state TV says 43 Syrian citizens were killed in this week’s blast in Beirut.

The TV quotes the Syrian embassy in Lebanon as saying that the number is not final as search operations for dozens of missing are still ongoing.

Lebanon is home to more than a million Syrians many of them refugees who fled civil war in their country.

A Lebanese health ministry official said on Saturday that the blast killed 154 people, including 21 bodies who have not been identified. He added that 45 people are still missing.

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1:50 p.m.

The president of a Christian party in Lebanon says the group’s three legislators in parliament will resign in protest against the government over this week’s deadly blast.

Samy Gemayel made his comments on Saturday during the funeral of a senior official with the Kataeb Party who was killed in Tuesday’s blast that destroyed Beirut’s port and damaged the capital.

The Kataeb party is part of the opposition and is known for its harsh criticism of the government that is backed by the militant Hezbollah group and its allies.

Lebanon’s parliament has 128-members and some legislators have said they will resign in protest over widespread corruption.

Legislator Marwan Hamadeh resigned earlier this week in protest after the blast occurred.

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1:15 p.m.

Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay says Ankara is ready to help Lebanon rebuild Beirut’s port and send ambulance planes to evacuate some of the wounded for treatment in Turkish hospitals.

Oktay spoke on Saturday to reporters after meeting Lebanese President Michel Aoun. He added that a Turkish search team is working at the port that was destroyed in a massive...