Police Detain Over 40 Demonstrators in Beirut

Baku. 26 August. REPORT.AZ/ More than 40 peaceful protesters were detained by police in Lebanese capital Beirut on Wednesday during an anti-government rally, a representative of an activist group said, Report informs citing RIA Novosti.

On early Wednesday, hundreds of people gathered at the center of Beirut to march in solidarity with those who had been protesting against garbage collection crisis last week. The rally began peacefully, but later turned violent as the police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons against the activists.

The rest of activists went to protest to the police stations in Beirut, demanding the release of their comrades, the group representative added.

Last week, thousands of Lebanese activists took to the streets of Beirut to protest against government corruption and political inaction amid a spreading garbage crisis. The action turned violent as police applied measures against protesters, and dozens of people were injured and hospitalized.

Following the incidents, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam vowed justice and threatened to resign if the next cabinet session did not yield results.

The problem of garbage in Lebanon became sharp after the country’s main landfill was closed in July. Since then, thousands of tonnes of garbage have been left uncollected as the officials fail to take measures.