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Lebanon rubbish crisis: Police 'break up ministry protest' Lebanon rubbish crisis: Police eject ministry occupiers
(about 5 hours later)
Police in Lebanon are trying to break up a sit-in by dozens of anti-government protesters inside the environment ministry in Beirut. Police in Lebanon have forcibly removed a group of protesters who occupied the environment ministry demanding the minister step down.
The police have surrounded the building and forced journalists to move away. Activists said they were dragged out about nine hours after the sit-in began. At least two were injured.
It is not clear what is going on inside the building but some of the protesters appear to have been removed by force. The demonstrators were part of the "You Stink" campaign, which was triggered by anger over rotting rubbish in Beirut.
The demonstrators are 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.
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. 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.
A video posted on social media earlier showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk. 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.
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. Some protesters said they were beaten with batons as they were removed.
"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. There were further scuffles between police and crowds supporting the occupiers outside the ministry.
But Arab TV stations and tweets from the scene suggest riot police are removing protesters by force. "It's just the beginning,'' one of the protesters inside the ministry, Imad Bazzi, told the Associated Press.
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.
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.