Lebanese protesters storm Environment Ministry over garbage crisis

Scores of Lebanese protesters stormed on Tuesday the premises of the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut, demanding that Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq to resign.

"We will stay here until our demands are met," Imad Bazzi, one of the organizers of anti-government protests held by "You Stink" campaign was quoted by the LBCI TV.

The "You Stink" campaign began in response to a garbage crisis that swept the country, but later it expanded to include demands of political reforms.

Another protester told the TV station that "this is our ministry. We will protect it. We don't need the presence of security forces," while his fellow activists were chanting "Mashnouq out" and urging the ministry employees and Lebanese citizens to join them.

The Internal Security Special forces deployed heavily at the building's entrance and blocked it.

But Mashnouq refused to resign, telling TV stations that "I am carrying out my duties."

The activists urged the minister to come out of his office and address them, saying they refused to send a representative to negotiate with al-Mashnouq.

During its last protest in downtown Beirut on Saturday, "You Stink" issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the authorities to meet their demands, including the resignation of the environment minister over his failure to handle the waste crisis.

The waste crisis erupted after the closure of the Naameh landfill south of Beirut on July 17. Endit