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Lebanon rubbish crisis: Police eject ministry occupiers | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police in Lebanon have forcibly removed a group of protesters who occupied the environment ministry demanding the minister step down. | |
Activists said they were dragged out about nine hours after the sit-in began. At least two were injured. | |
The demonstrators were part of the "You Stink" campaign, which was triggered by anger over rotting rubbish in Beirut. | |
But it has since grown into a wider attack on the perceived corruption and incompetence of politicians. | |
After a huge demonstration on Saturday, protestors issued a 72-hour deadline for Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk to step down. The activists also want snap parliamentary elections. | |
The ministry occupiers sat cross-legged shouting "out, out, out", with the minister himself meanwhile reportedly holed up in an office on the same floor. | |
Some protesters said they were beaten with batons as they were removed. | |
There were further scuffles between police and crowds supporting the occupiers outside the ministry. | |
"It's just the beginning,'' one of the protesters inside the ministry, Imad Bazzi, told the Associated Press. | |
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. |
The "You Stink" movement 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. |
Mr Machnouk has refused to resign but has stepped down from a committee dealing with the crisis. | |
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. |