Clashes as Thousands of Protesters Rally in Riad al-Solh for Second Day

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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.

Comments 25
Missing Je_suis@libonase 23 August 2015, 19:56

Mr Salam and Mr Miqati are two of the worst prime ministers lebanon has ever had we the Lebanese have every right to bring down this useless government Lebanon is still living in the past and it is high time we changed everything in order to bring this country into the future for the greater benefit of all Lebanese home and abroad .

Thumb lebanon_first 23 August 2015, 20:26

Bad idea that they resign. The populace is targeting its anger against the wrong target. The problem is not the ministers. It is the parliamentary blocs chiefs.

Aoun who is sclerosing the country (albeit for a good cause)
Hariri who allowed Sukleen to take 150$ per ton for merely dumping the trash without recycling,
Berri the thief in chief,
Nasrallah, the iranian implant.
Jumblat the double faced christian hating snake.

The wrath of the polulation should be against those. Not against Salam or mashnouk

Thumb _mowaten_ 23 August 2015, 21:24

Hariri is out, today he is nothing more than a few distant tweets. Salam is now the tool they use today to paralyze the country while controlling the two most powerful positions (Prime Minister and President, which the PM takes over in the absence of one).
Now he may be just a puppet, remote controlled from Riyadh, but he is a puppet that has to go for this country to start going forward.

I wont go into the names and name-callings in your list, it's useless, but I notice you forgot a name. A bloody war criminal and war time mafia lord who m14 is trying to impose as president of this country... ring a bell?

Thumb _mowaten_ 23 August 2015, 21:56

Lol il semble que quelqu’un ait eu le bec cloué, tout ce qu'il a pu sortir était une petite vomissure.

Thumb _mowaten_ 23 August 2015, 23:36

Quand tu apprendras a lire avant de vomir, tu verras que les insultes viennent de toi. Entre temps pense ce que tu veux, si tu te rendais compte a quel point tu es insignifiant, tu es du bétail, tu n'as pas d'opinion, pas de bon sens, pas d'arguments, pas de dignité, juste ta petite haine minable qui révèle ta vie pourrie et ton manque de vision.

Thumb _mowaten_ 24 August 2015, 00:48

encore accroché a ta petite chanson? "chiite ceci, chiite cela" mais vas paître mon pauvre type, tu n’intéresses personne avec tes vieilles rengaines creuses

Thumb _mowaten_ 24 August 2015, 01:32

J'ai du mal a croire que toi meme tu prends au serieux.

pajama.boy 4 hours ago: "La ferme parasite chiite."

Et ensuite tu me fais ta mijaurée parce que je te tutoie? LOL pov' tache, tu apprendras qu'on ne vouvoie pas un cafard, on lui met un coup de sermeye.

Thumb liberty 24 August 2015, 06:27

ما يشهده وسط بيروت محاولة انقلابية يقودها “حزب الله”
look at the hezbollah thugs in the picture
http://www.lebanese-forces.com/2015/08/24/hezbollah-212/

Thumb _mowaten_ 24 August 2015, 12:30

Hariri is out, today he is nothing more than a few distant tweets. Salam is now the tool they use today to paralyze the country while controlling the two most powerful positions (Prime Minister and President, which the PM takes over in the absence of one).
Now he may be just a puppet, remote controlled from Riyadh, but he is a puppet that has to go for this country to start going forward.

I wont go into the names and name-callings in your list, it's useless, but I notice you forgot a name. A bloody war criminal and war time mafia lord who m14 is trying to impose as president of this country... ring a bell?

Default-user-icon ACanadianLebanese (Guest) 23 August 2015, 20:49

About time the Lebanese people unite as one and stand together against a corrupt government that has been robbing the Lebanese people blind.I hope and pray they continue peacefully until real change is achieved.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 21:15

MTV has been showing the provocateurs "Moundassin" from Ebola, Berri and Caporal...
Maudit soit ce Caporal....

Missing march14zionisttraitors 23 August 2015, 21:43

filthy zionist trash is trying to blame patriotic march 8 coalition for anything

Missing march14zionisttraitors 23 August 2015, 21:44

filthy zionist trash is trying to blame patriotic march 8 coalition for anything

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:19

There is only one filthy traitor your caporal de merde

Missing helicopter 24 August 2015, 07:00

M8IranianMullah
You have no right to call any Lebanese with what you are (traitor). When a traitor (YOU Mullah Lover) calls another Lebanese a traitor that makes the other Lebanese a Patriot.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:19

We are totally fed up with you....distributing insults of zionism while you are the dirtiest agents and traitors destroying this country...

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:22

I do not feel insulted by your zionism/takfirism/wahhabism insults...because there is not the slightest doubt about how you are destroying this country...may God punish you.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:22

I do not feel insulted bybyour zionism/takfirism/wahhabism insults...because there is not the slightest doubt about you how you zre destroying this country...may God punish you.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:23

I will never want to live with your backaged culture.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 23:51

Sermeye like your culture.

Missing humble 23 August 2015, 22:24

Go to Hell...all of you who have destroyed National Unity and coexistence...

Missing abraham 24 August 2015, 01:39

you must be an Aoun allergist

Missing abraham 24 August 2015, 01:41

I agree with you 100%
out with this corrupt politicians from all sides

Missing abraham 24 August 2015, 01:41

you must be a corrupt midget yourself
or your bosses are....

Thumb liberty 24 August 2015, 02:25

The thugs of the resistance brigades and the fpm were using this demonstration to attack the security forces and belt them with stones, water and molotov bottles. They deserve everything they got back from the armed forces. This is an attempt to bring down the government under the disguise of legitimate demands.