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| Lebanon rubbish crisis: Thousands attend anti-government rally | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people are taking part in a rally in the Lebanese capital Beirut in protest at a government they say is corrupt and ineffective. | |
| Security is high amid fears the demonstrations could turn violent, as similar protests did last weekend. | Security is high amid fears the demonstrations could turn violent, as similar protests did last weekend. |
| Dissatisfaction with Lebanon's ruling groups was sparked by a failure to solve a crisis over the disposal of rubbish earlier this summer. | Dissatisfaction with Lebanon's ruling groups was sparked by a failure to solve a crisis over the disposal of rubbish earlier this summer. |
| It led to the "You Stink" campaign calling for high-level resignations. | It led to the "You Stink" campaign calling for high-level resignations. |
| The protesters poured into a major square in central Beirut, waving Lebanese flags and shouting anti-government slogans. | |
| Many wore t-shirts with the words "You Stink". Some were playing music and singing. | Many wore t-shirts with the words "You Stink". Some were playing music and singing. |
| Lebanon wracked by dysfunction | Lebanon wracked by dysfunction |
| Lebanon cartoons vent anger at rubbish crisis | Lebanon cartoons vent anger at rubbish crisis |
| In a speech before the protesters, campaign organiser Rasha Halabi called for the resignation of the environment minister and for the interior minister to be held accountable for violence against protesters last week. | |
| The demonstrators are also calling for new parliamentary elections. | |
| "This is not a protest for political parties. It is for all the Lebanese people... we are against the parties that are exploiting citizens," Lucien Bourjeily was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. | "This is not a protest for political parties. It is for all the Lebanese people... we are against the parties that are exploiting citizens," Lucien Bourjeily was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. |
| Barricades and barbed wire were installed around government buildings as security was increased ahead of the rally. | Barricades and barbed wire were installed around government buildings as security was increased ahead of the rally. |
| Human rights organisation Amnesty International urged the security services to show restraint and called for an investigation into last week's violence. | Human rights organisation Amnesty International urged the security services to show restraint and called for an investigation into last week's violence. |
| Some protesters, which campaign organisers called "infiltrators", threw bottles and fireworks. Police responded with rubber bullets and water spray, leaving at least 59 people hospitalised. | Some protesters, which campaign organisers called "infiltrators", threw bottles and fireworks. Police responded with rubber bullets and water spray, leaving at least 59 people hospitalised. |
| Beirut's governor Ziad Chebib said a "joint operations room" run by the army and police had been set up to "guarantee the well-being of protesters" at Saturday's protests. | Beirut's governor Ziad Chebib said a "joint operations room" run by the army and police had been set up to "guarantee the well-being of protesters" at Saturday's protests. |
| Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since Lebanon's largest landfill shut down last month with no ready alternative. | Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since Lebanon's largest landfill shut down last month with no ready alternative. |
| This led to the creation of the You Stink movement, which blames political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. | This led to the creation of the You Stink movement, which blames political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis. |
| The cabinet failed to reach agreement on Tuesday on a way forward, saying the fees quoted by private waste management companies were too great. | The cabinet failed to reach agreement on Tuesday on a way forward, saying the fees quoted by private waste management companies were too great. |
| Ministers allied to the Islamist organisation Hezbollah, which back the demonstrations, walked out of the meeting in protest. | Ministers allied to the Islamist organisation Hezbollah, which back the demonstrations, walked out of the meeting in protest. |
| Prime Minister Tammam Salam has acknowledged his government is "heading towards collapse if things continue as they are". | Prime Minister Tammam Salam has acknowledged his government is "heading towards collapse if things continue as they are". |
| 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. |
| Are you in Beirut? Can a solution be found to the crisis? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Beirut? Can a solution be found to the crisis? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |