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| Lebanon PM threatens resignation as protests continue | Lebanon PM threatens resignation as protests continue |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A third day of protests is planned in Lebanon where anti-government protesters have clashed with police over the failure to remove uncollected rubbish from the streets. | A third day of protests is planned in Lebanon where anti-government protesters have clashed with police over the failure to remove uncollected rubbish from the streets. |
| Prime Minister Tammam Salam threatened to resign as thousands demonstrated for a second day in Beirut on Sunday. | Prime Minister Tammam Salam threatened to resign as thousands demonstrated for a second day in Beirut on Sunday. |
| Police used water cannon and tear gas to try to disperse the crowds and dozens were injured. | Police used water cannon and tear gas to try to disperse the crowds and dozens were injured. |
| Lebanon does not have a president and parliament remains in a stalemate. | Lebanon does not have a president and parliament remains in a stalemate. |
| Mr Salam's unity government has been accused of being hamstrung by sectarian rivalries exacerbated by the conflict in neighbouring Syria. | |
| Unrest has been building because of the government's failure to clear up rubbish piled on the streets of Beirut since the country's biggest landfill closed last month. | Unrest has been building because of the government's failure to clear up rubbish piled on the streets of Beirut since the country's biggest landfill closed last month. |
| They blame political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. | They blame political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. |
| On Sunday, protesters threw rocks and sticks at police and lit fires. | On Sunday, protesters threw rocks and sticks at police and lit fires. |
| Samer Abdullah, a 39-year-old activist, told Reuters: "People went out because they don't have power or electricity. | Samer Abdullah, a 39-year-old activist, told Reuters: "People went out because they don't have power or electricity. |
| "They have a million problems, and the garbage problem is the tipping point." | "They have a million problems, and the garbage problem is the tipping point." |
| "I warn that we are going towards collapse if matters continue," Mr Salam said in a televised address. | "I warn that we are going towards collapse if matters continue," Mr Salam said in a televised address. |
| "Frankly, I have not and will not be a partner in this collapse. Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities." | "Frankly, I have not and will not be a partner in this collapse. Let all officials and political forces bear their responsibilities." |
| If Mr Salam were to resign it could trigger a constitutional crisis because in Lebanon the prime minister is appointed by the president, but the presidency has been vacant for over a year. | If Mr Salam were to resign it could trigger a constitutional crisis because in Lebanon the prime minister is appointed by the president, but the presidency has been vacant for over a year. |
| Replacing the president requires a deal many say can only be brokered by Iran and Saudi Arabia. | Replacing the president requires a deal many say can only be brokered by Iran and Saudi Arabia. |
| Mr Salam said that if a cabinet meeting later in the week failed to resolve the waste issue, Lebanon's heavily-indebted government was in any case likely to collapse. | Mr Salam said that if a cabinet meeting later in the week failed to resolve the waste issue, Lebanon's heavily-indebted government was in any case likely to collapse. |
| He had already warned that the heavily indebted government would be unable to pay salaries next month. | He had already warned that the heavily indebted government would be unable to pay salaries next month. |
| He also said Lebanon's inability to service the public debt through bond sales could result in the country's credit rating falling down to the ranks of the "failed states". | He also said Lebanon's inability to service the public debt through bond sales could result in the country's credit rating falling down to the ranks of the "failed states". |