Clashes as Thousands of Protesters Rally in Riad al-Solh for Second Day
Thousands of protesters poured into Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square on Sunday demanding that the country's top politicians resign, hours after Prime Minister Tammam Salam hinted he might step down following violent protests triggered by a monthlong trash crisis.
The demonstrations, the largest in years, railed against the corruption and dysfunction that has brought about Lebanon's current political crisis. The country does not have a functioning cabinet or parliament, and hasn't had a president for more than a year.
By Sunday afternoon, thousands of protesters chanting "revolution" massed near the Grand Serail, demanding that Salam resign immediately.
"The people want to topple the regime!" protesters cried out, a slogan used during the Arab Spring protests that swept through the region. Waving Lebanese flags and chanting, they stood in front of a ring of barbed wire that separated them from government headquarters and riot police.
In the evening, violence erupted as some protesters -- described as "infiltrators" by organizers and state-run National News Agency -- tried to remove the barricades outside the Grand Serail.
The You Stink campaign, the main group that has called for the current protests, has noted that the "infiltrators" were sent by political parties represented in the government.
Security forces fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters, who responded by hurling rocks and empty bottles.
Several people were injured and some fainted during the confrontations.
Meanwhile, NNA said some "infiltrators" hurled Molotov cocktails and a burning tire at security forces.
The violence prompted the You Stink campaign to ask its supporters to leave Riad al-Solh and head to the nearby Martyrs Square. The movement later called on protesters to leave all streets.
The Lebanese Red Cross said at least 43 wounded protesters were rushed to hospitals as 200 injuries were treated on the spot.
The Internal Security Forces for its part said 36 of its members were injured, one critically.
The clashes come one day after more than 50 protesters were wounded after security forces used excessive force and fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators.
Saturday's demonstrations were by far the largest since garbage began piling up on the streets after the capital's main landfill was closed a month ago. Bickering politicians have been unable to agree on an alternative system for waste management.
Residents and municipalities have resorted to burning trash on the streets and dumping garbage into valleys, rivers and near the sea, leading to warnings of a health catastrophe.
An online group calling itself "You Stink" and other civil society groups organized the rallies, urging others to join them in a revolt against a corrupt system.
You Stink issued a statement Sunday afternoon calling on Salam to resign immediately, saying, "Our patience has run out."
The campaign is also demanding that those responsible for using excessive force against protesters be held accountable.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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