At least 35 people, both police officers and protesters, were injured in the clashes.
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Protesters blame political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the rubbish crisis.
He called on Lebanon’s cabinet to meet next week to find a solution to the crisis, railing against the political divisions that have paralyzed Lebanon’s government institutions.
“But the story is bigger than this straw”.
No, not metaphorical political trash, actual trash.
The weekend protest was organized by a group calling itself “You Stink”, a moniker that has as much to do with the rotting garbage that is clogging the streets of Beirut as it does sentiment toward the leaders of the politically stagnant nation.
The “You Stink” campaign has staged several protests calling for a comprehensive solution to the waste problem which erupted after Lebanon’s largest landfill closed on July 17.
Earlier in the day the prime minister told a press conference: “Do you know that we are heading towards a financial problem for being unable to issue bonds and repay our debts?”
Security forces fired into the air, clouds of tear gas wafted through the streets and shop fronts were smashed as police tried to force protesters from the area.
About 20 minutes later, the protesters slowly started evacuating the Riad al-Solh protest square and moved toward Martyr’s Square, chanting “the people want the downfall of the government”, and “revolution!”
Thirty members of the Internal Security Forces were injured on Sunday, one seriously, the National News Agency said.
The protesters set a police motorcycle ablaze.
In a statement to journalists at the protest site, the movement’s leadership rebuffed Salam’s offer of talks and demanded the government’s resignation.
Protesters say the movement now is about tackling all of Lebanon’s ills and the rubbish crisis was only the catalyst. But when I was watching I saw some soldiers hitting a woman.
One protester, Imad Bazi, said that the demonstrations would continue until the government resign. “We’re fighting for garbage?” More than 50 protesters and policemen were wounded, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. Protesters reportedly threw rocks and bottles at police, whereas police pushed again protesters with shields and batons. Broken glass and stones littered the streets.
“Security forces are reacting to orders from the political elite, and citizens are legitimately exhausted of it”, Kadado said.
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FPM ministers, backed by Hezbollah, maintained their intransigence, persuaded that various crises advanced their righteousness even if public anger against the entire political class threatened to sink the ship of state and down everyone in it. “It is full of garbage”.
