[PHOTOS] “You Stink” activists set up tents in central Beirut, to...

3^min

Calm returned to central Beirut on Saturday night following the scuffles that erupted between “You Stink” civil society activists and security forces during a demonstration held in Beirut’s Riad El-Soleh Square to protest the government’s failure in resolving Lebanon’s pressing waste crisis.

During the protest, security forces used water cannons and tear gas to disperse activists and also fired bullets against them.

In this regard, Lebanese Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh told LBCI that a number of activists were transported from Riad El-Soleh to nearby hospitals, adding that one of them is severely injured and his situation is critical.

The activists who were protesting against the cabinet’s procrastination in resolving the alarming garbage crisis, stressed that they will not end their demonstration, calling on all Lebanese citizens to join them in their movement.

Accordingly, they announced an open-ended sit-in and to set-up tents in Riad al-Solh Square until the cabinet resigns and the Parliament is dissolved.

Activist Assaad Thebian called via LBCI on House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Tammam Salam to resign, emphasizing that the movements will not end before cabinet’s resignation.

It is worth noting that LBCI team members, who were reporting from Riad El-Soleh, were also attacked by security forces.

Positions

Interior Minister Nouhad Mahsnouq confirmed that he is not in Lebanon, and vowed that he will resolve the country's pressing waste crisis during Thursday’s cabinet session.

Meanwhile, MP Walid Jumblatt accused Minister Nouhad Mashnouq of the country's current situation, stressing that the latter should resign.

For his part, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour noted that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is ready to communicate with the protestors' representative in order to resolve the crisis.

Lebanon has been grappling with a waste crisis following the July 17 closure of the Naameh landfill. The cabinet pledged last year that the said landfill would be shut down and an alternative site would be found, however failed to live up to its promises.

The piles of garbage rotting in the summer heat triggered nationwide outrage and serious health warnings.

To get rid of waste, frustrated residents set fire to dumpsters and trash containers, further polluting the hot and humid air.

The mess is a stark reminder of the cabinet crisis afflicting Lebanon, where politicians divided by local and regional crises have even failed to agree on where to dump the capital city's rubbish.