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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lebanon rubbish crisis: Activists occupy environment ministry | Lebanon rubbish crisis: Activists occupy environment ministry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Activists in Lebanon have occupied the environment ministry, in the latest "You Stink" protest over rotting rubbish in the capital, Beirut. | Activists in Lebanon have occupied the environment ministry, in the latest "You Stink" protest over rotting rubbish in the capital, Beirut. |
| A video posted on social media showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk. | A video posted on social media showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk. |
| It follows weeks of protests over the government's failure to remove growing piles of waste on the streets. | It follows weeks of protests over the government's failure to remove growing piles of waste on the streets. |
| The activists have also been demanding snap parliamentary elections. | The activists have also been demanding snap parliamentary elections. |
| They said they would remain in the building until Mr Machnouk resigned. | They said they would remain in the building until Mr Machnouk resigned. |
| "They did not fulfil our demands. We were all on the streets, tens of thousands of us making our demands. Once more, they are escaping accountability. We will not take it any more," protester Lucien Bourjeily was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | |
| This comes after the "You Stink" movement issued a 72-hour ultimatum on Saturday for the minister to step down. | |
| Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since the country's largest landfill shut down in July with no ready alternative. | Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since the country's largest landfill shut down in July with no ready alternative. |
| This led to the creation of "You Stink", which blames political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. | This led to the creation of "You Stink", which blames political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. |
| Last week, the cabinet failed to reach agreement on a way forward, saying the fees quoted by private waste management companies were too great. | Last week, the cabinet failed to reach agreement on a way forward, saying the fees quoted by private waste management companies were too great. |
| Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year, while members of parliament have extended their own terms until 2017 after failing to agree on a law on fresh elections. | Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year, while members of parliament have extended their own terms until 2017 after failing to agree on a law on fresh elections. |
| The conflict in neighbouring Syria has also exacerbated political and sectarian divisions, and resulted in the arrival of 1.1 million refugees, putting a strain on the economy and public services. | The conflict in neighbouring Syria has also exacerbated political and sectarian divisions, and resulted in the arrival of 1.1 million refugees, putting a strain on the economy and public services. |