Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq praised on Monday what he described as the "proper performance of Security Forces", confirming the right to "peaceful demonstrations without resorting to public property vandalism" following his meeting with Premier Tamam Salam. “Many participants were peaceful, but some were supported by political parties,” Minister Mashnouq said. "No parliamentary elections can take place before the election of a new president," the minister reiterated. “Dialogue will continue between all parties and we will not abandon the government,” Minister Mashnouq said stressing that the Security Forces have proven great responsibility in terms of their handling of the demonstrations. Massive demonstrations launched by environmental anti-corruption activists, “You Stink”, kicked off on Saturday (August 22) evening to protest the government’s failure to resolve the waste management crisis. During the protest, scuffles erupted between protesters and security forces, leaving several injured from both parties. Similar confrontations broke out on Sunday (August 23) between security forces and several protesters described by organizers of the "You Stink" movement as "infiltrators". 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