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Lebanon rubbish crisis: Activists occupy environment ministry Lebanon rubbish crisis: Police 'break up ministry protest'
(about 4 hours later)
Activists in Lebanon have occupied the environment ministry, in the latest "You Stink" protest over rotting rubbish in the capital, Beirut. Police in Lebanon are trying to break up a sit-in by dozens of anti-government protesters inside the environment ministry in Beirut.
A video posted on social media showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk. The police have surrounded the building and forced journalists to move away.
It follows weeks of protests over the government's failure to remove growing piles of waste on the streets. It is not clear what is going on inside the building but some of the protesters appear to have been removed by force.
The activists have also been demanding snap parliamentary elections. The demonstrators are part of the "You Stink" campaign, which was triggered by anger over rotting rubbish in Beirut.
They said they would remain in the building until Mr Machnouk resigned. But it has grown into a wider attack on the perceived corruption and incompetence of politicians. The activists have also been demanding snap parliamentary elections.
A video posted on social media earlier showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk.
They vowed to remain in the building until Mr Machnouk resigned, after protesters issued a 72-hour ultimatum on Saturday for the minister to step down.
"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."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. But Arab TV stations and tweets from the scene suggest riot police are removing protesters by force.
A security source told AFP news agency that police were gradually moving the several dozen protesters from the seventh floor of the building in central Beirut.
AFP quoted activists as saying police were beating the protesters.
Paralysis
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. The "You Stink" movement 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.