Protest organizers in Lebanon postpone Monday garbage demonstration after

The weekend’s demonstrations were organized by an informal group of activists who call themselves Til’at Reehitkum (You Stink) – a reference to the pervasive garbage smell that wafts not just from the trash-strewn streets but also, protesters contend, from the rotting entrails of the central government. Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil, whose Free Patriotic Movement is aligned with Hezbollah, said he was pulling out because of a “theater” being performed with regards to the trash issue. The protesters chanted, “The people want the downfall of the government”, and “Revolution!” as they marched toward Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported.

On Saturday and Sunday night, police fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters, battling them in the streets of Beirut in dramatic clashes.

More than 20 parliamentary sessions have been held to elect a president, but the country’s major political blocs have been unable to agree on a candidate. The statement suggested the powerful group was throwing its weight behind the protest movement now calling on the government to resign.

Clashes between security forces and protesters have continued for a second night in Beirut as Lebanon’s prime minister has threatened to resign.

Protesting in the heart of Lebanon’s capital – a clean, upscale enclave where few Lebanese can afford to dine or shop – was symbolic for many of those gathered.

Lebanon’s government operates a power-sharing system that supposedly ensures equal representation between the country’s Muslim and Christian sects.

These politicians see proof of this in the fact that at the beginning of the “You Stink” protests, Lebanese citizens critical of the government’s inability to deal with trash were holding up signs to this effect.

Many dozens of people have been hurt over the two days.

Protest organizers have blamed the violence on troublemakers whom they say are connected to rival sectarian parties.

The violence of law enforcement is very well documented, via the #YouStink طلعت _ريحتكم# movement’s Facebook page, while a general overview of Saturday’s developments can also be found on Eye on the East’s twitter account (@eyeontheeast).

“I warn that we are going towards collapse if matters continue”, Salam said in his address earlier in the day.

During another largely peaceful rally by hundreds Tuesday, some protesters moved closer to the security forces, prompting a sudden rise in tempers.

The conflict in neighbouring Syria has brought instability and more than 1mn refugees, straining an already overwhelmed infrastructure.

The protests began over the government’s failure to find a new site for Lebanon’s trash after the country’s largest landfill was closed on July 17.

You Stink has called for the resignation of the government and new parliamentary elections, but due to the sectarian Lebanese political system, it is unlikely another election would yield a significantly different result without a change to the voting law. They had initially planned to rally on Monday but postponed following the violence. That was a reference to years of Israeli military control over parts of Lebanon.

The national unity government led by Prime Minister Tammam Salam has been mostly hamstrung since it came to office previous year, paralyzed by rivalries among politicians that have been exacerbated by crises in the wider region.