Protesters in Beirut Give Gov’t 72 Hours to Meet Demands
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Protesters Saturday vowed to escalate their measures next week if the state failed to meet their demands within 72 hours.
"On Tuesday our demonstrations will not only be held in Beirut but in different areas across Lebanon," a member of the You Stink campaign told thousands of demonstrators, who flooded into Martyrs' Square in Downtown Beirut to join an anti-corruption rally.
"Our battle is long and will continue until the executive and legislative authorities return to citizens... and the election of a new head state... but we will be victorious," she added.
The campaign highlighted that its main goal is "to build a civilian, democratic and fair state."
"We will not back down until Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk resigns because he failed to carry out his duties, in particular regarding the garbage crisis."
The statement also called for holding Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouk accountable for the security forces' previous actions in last week's protests.
"We are against violence, but we are not afraid to confront."
You Stink campaign leaders demanded Friday parliamentary elections, which have not been held since 2009, The Daily Star reported.
The campaign also called for holding accountable officials and security personnel for using excessive force against protesters.
Security forces shot live ammunition into the air last Saturday in response to a peaceful but vigorous rally and deployed water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades, and shot at protesters with rubber bullets. A riot broke out Sunday, damaging property in Downtown Beirut.
You Stink is also pressing the State Financial Prosecutor to pursue a corruption investigation of the country’s waste management sector, as well.
Finally, the campaign demanded that authorities apply a Thursday Cabinet decision to transfer waste management authority to municipalities and hand over state money owed to them.