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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lebanon rubbish crisis: Thousands attend anti-government rally | Lebanon rubbish crisis: Thousands attend anti-government rally |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have taken part in a rally in the Lebanese capital Beirut in protest at a government they say is corrupt and ineffective. | Thousands of people have taken part in a rally in the Lebanese capital Beirut in protest at a government they say is corrupt and ineffective. |
| Security was high amid fears the demonstrations could turn violent, as similar protests did last weekend. | Security was high amid fears the demonstrations could turn violent, as similar protests did last weekend. |
| Organisers of Saturday's mostly peaceful rally demanded the environment minister resign within 72 hours. | Organisers of Saturday's mostly peaceful rally demanded the environment minister resign within 72 hours. |
| The government's failure to solve the crisis over the disposal of rubbish led to the 'You Stink' campaign. | The government's failure to solve the crisis over the disposal of rubbish led to the 'You Stink' campaign. |
| They have been calling on the government to hold snap parliamentary elections, and also want the interior minister held to account for excessive force by police at last week's protests. | |
| Lebanon wracked by dysfunction | Lebanon wracked by dysfunction |
| Lebanon cartoons vent anger at rubbish crisis | Lebanon cartoons vent anger at rubbish crisis |
| The protesters poured into a major square in central Beirut, waving Lebanese flags and shouting anti-government slogans. | 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. |
| The rally was mostly peaceful although a small group of masked youths tried to break through barbed wire to reach the prime minister's office. They set fire to rubbish and pelted police officers with stones and plastic bottles. | The rally was mostly peaceful although a small group of masked youths tried to break through barbed wire to reach the prime minister's office. They set fire to rubbish and pelted police officers with stones and plastic bottles. |
| "We give the government 72 hours," one organiser, Rasha Halabi, told the crowd. "If our demands have not been met by Tuesday night, we will turn up the heat." | "We give the government 72 hours," one organiser, Rasha Halabi, told the crowd. "If our demands have not been met by Tuesday night, we will turn up the heat." |
| One young protester told AFP that he had come to protest "because the country has all become garbage". | One young protester told AFP that he had come to protest "because the country has all become garbage". |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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: |