A senior US official chided Lebanese leaders for their failure to break months of political deadlock and form a new government to tackle the economic crisis. 

Under Secretary of State David Hale, after talks in Beirut with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, reiterated calls from Washington and its allies to resolve the severe political and economic crisis in Lebanon, Reuters reports.

“This is the culmination of decades of mismanagement, corruption and failure of Lebanese leaders to put the interests of the country first,” Hale told reporters.

“America and the international community are ready to help, but we can do nothing meaningful without a Lebanese partner.”

Hale, who is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri and President Michel Aoun, said they must show the flexibility needed to form a government capable of genuine reform. “That is the only path out of this crisis. It is also only a first step,” he said.