Activists Stage Sit-In Protest In Beirut Ministry

Dozens of protesters have staged a sit-in inside a Lebanon government building as part of wider demonstrations against corruption in the country.

Witnesses said protesters occupied the top floor of the environment ministry building in Beirut, calling for minister Mohammad Machnouk to resign.

Hundreds more gathered outside amid a heavy security presence and it was unclear if Mr Machnouk was in the building.

Lebanon has been hit by a series of anti-government protests sparked by a dispute over uncollected rubbish, which has seen piles of refuse left stinking on streets.

Lucien Bourjeily, of the You Stink movement which organised the protest, said: "They did not fulfil our demands ... we were all on the streets, tens of thousands of us saying our demands.

"Once more they are escaping accountability. We will not take it anymore."

Protesters say the waste crisis mirrors the rot inside Lebanon politics, with many politicians viewed as incompetent or corrupt.

Tuesday's protest lasted for about nine hours, and all demonstrators eventually left the building.

Some of the protesters claimed they had been beaten by police as they were escorted from the premises.

However, Lebanon's interior ministry alleged its officers had been pelted with rocks, fireworks and water bottles.

One organiser behind the You Stink movement has vowed to continue with the campaign - and said the rally had proved that the government "does not want to listen to its people".

Last week, thousands took to the streets in Beirut to protest against corruption - the largest demonstration in Lebanese history.

Similar demonstrations sparked violence last month and Prime Minister Tammam Salam threatened to resign.

On Tuesday, parliament speaker Nabih Berri announced high-level talks between Lebanon politicians will take place next week.

Even though Lebanon's civil war ended more than 20 years ago, the country is still frequently hit by power outages on a daily basis - along with regular water shortages.

The current government has been criticised for its indecision on what are regarded as basic issues, as the country deals with the influx of more than a million refugees from neighbouring Syria.