The ISF said in a later statement that it had released all those detained during the protests following a request by Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnuq.
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Thousands turned out near parliament in central Beirut, in the biggest protest to date over uncollected rubbish. Trash has merely gathered within the streets as the federal government has been unable to choose an alternate dumping floor for the rubbish, amid legislative paralysis and bickering amongst politicians.
Lebanese Red Cross spokesman George Kattaneh told the AP news agency that at least 15 protesters were wounded, and one of them was in a critical condition.
The “You Stink” protesters on Wednesday, demanding an answer, and police responded with water cannons and tear fuel then as properly.
The Internal Security Forces said that 35 members of its forces were also wounded. Protesters say authorities corruption and political dysfunction are accountable for the sanitation disaster.
The problem of garbage in Lebanon became sharp after the country’s main landfill was closed in July. Another read: “Some trash should NOT be recycled“, written in red above photos of Lebanese politicians.
Nour Samaha, reporting for Al Jazeera from Beirut, said more than 4,000 people had joined the protest, adding that about 1,500 people remained on the streets by 10pm local time.
The health minister warned this week that Lebanon could suffer a “major health catastrophe”.
Riot police in Lebanon have clashed with protesters in the capital city of Beirut over the country’s mounting garbage crisis, APA reports quoting Press TV. Lebanese have rarely taken to the streets unless it was for a political cause backed by a political party.
The country has been without a president for more than a year.
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Meanwhile, heavy clashes broke out in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the port city of Sidon, which started when Islamists tried to assassinate a commander of the mainstream Fatah movement. They included protesters and police, he said.
