Police in Lebanon moved in to clear protesters who had staged a sit-in at the environment ministry.<br /><br /> Their action highlighting an ongoing rubbish disposal crisis was the latest in a series of protests at the country’s political paralysis.<br /><br /> The demonstrators called for the resignation of Environment Minister Mohamad Al Machnouk.<br /><br /> Police moved in after protesters ignored an ultimatum from the authorities to leave.<br /><br /> The head of Green Party, who witnessed what happened, sympathises with their cause but not their methods.<br /><br /> “We deplore state institutions being taken hostage. We can’t accept people entering state buildings like this. Our cause is purely environmental,” Nada Zaarour said angrily.<br /><br /> Outside the building hundreds more demonstrated. <br /><br /> The protesters say the waste crisis reflects the rot inside Lebanon’s political system.<br /><br /> One man who was evicted from the ministry complained of rough treatment by the police.<br /><br /> “They first cut the electricity and the water… then they came in. We told them we would leave in a dignified manner but they hit everyone on the head as we walked down the stairs, for no reason,” he shouted.<br /><br /> The “You Stink” campaign has brought thousands of disaffected Lebanese onto the streets in recent weeks. <br /><br /> The movement which began over uncollected rubbish has evolved into a widespread protest against corruption and government incompetence. <br /><br /> The national unity government has struggled to take even basic decisions amid sectarian divisions and a wider crisis exacerbated by the war in Syria.
