To take advantage of all the features on FRANCE24.COM, please click here to download the latest version of Flash Player. FRANCE 24 correspondent Lucy Fielder reports from Beirut.

  
Sleiman said authorities had ruled out terrorism or sabotage as the cause of the crash.
  
"Up until now we have ruled out foul play," Sleiman told reporters.
  
"This is a painful tragic event. We are sparing no efforts in trying to find survivors," he added.
  
"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of those on board."
  
The accident took place amid heavy rains and storms in Lebanon in the past two days that have caused heavy flooding and damage in some parts of the country.
  
Officials listed 83 passengers and seven crew members as having been on board the flight.
  
Aridi said the passengers include 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one French woman, one Syrian and seven crew members. There were also several dual nationals including two British-Lebanese, one Canadian-Lebanese and a Russian-Lebanese.
  
Thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon and Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa and Beirut.
  
Among those on board the flight was Marla Sanchez Pietton, the wife of France's ambassador to Lebanon, Denis Pietton, the French embassy told AFP.
  
Aridi said he had formed an investigative committee to determine the cause of the crash and had contacted nearby countries to assist in the search and rescue effort.
  
The Lebanese army, navy as well as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were assisting in the rescue, Aridi added.
  
"We have contacted everyone, inside and outside the country, that can assist us and the Lebanese navy, the army and UNIFIL have joined in the rescue," the minister added.
  
He said the French organisation responsible for technical investigation of civil aviation accidents was taking part in the probe.
  
A government official said Cyprus was assisting in the search and rescue efforts as were naval vessels from the UN force stationed in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
  
Prime Minister Saad Hariri declared Monday a national day of mourning.
  
The Boeing 737-800, which entered into commercial service in 1998, is one of the latest versions of the world's most widely used short to medium-haul airliners, and is capable of carrying up to 189 passengers.
  
The accident comes just one month after a Panamian-flagged ship transporting livestock capsized in stormy weather and sank off the coast of northern Lebanon with around 80 sailors on board.
  
The majority of the sailors were rescued but 26 were unaccounted for and presumed dead.
 

 

Ethiopian Airlines has supplied these numbers for people seeking additional information: +251 11 517 8766, +251 91 150 1248, +251 11 517 8028, +251 11 517 8054, +251 11 517 8025, +251 11 517 8030, +251 91 125 5577, +251 91 120 3412 or our toll free number +251 11 662 0062