Lebanese anti-government protesters chant slogans as they hold their national flag outside the Environment Ministry, in support of activists staging a sit-in inside, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015. Lebanese security forces dragged a number of activists out of the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut, where they were staging an hours-long sit-in on Tuesday demanding the minister’s resignation over a trash crisis that has ignited mass protests. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanese red cross volunteers treat an injured woman during clashes between protesters and Lebanese riot policemen outside the Environment Ministry, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015. Lebanese security forces dragged a number of activists out of the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut, where they were staging an hours-long sit-in on Tuesday demanding the minister’s resignation over a trash crisis that has ignited mass protests. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanese anti-government protesters clash with riot policemen outside the Environment Ministry in support of activists staging a sit-in inside, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015. Lebanese security forces dragged a number of activists out of the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut, where they were staging an hours-long sit-in on Tuesday demanding the minister’s resignation over a trash crisis that has ignited mass protests. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A Lebanese policeman, center, walks between anti-government activists sitting cross-legged on the floor, during a protest against the minister Mohammed Machnouk inside the Environment Ministry, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015. Lebanese protesters broke into the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the minister over the country’s snowballing trash crisis. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
REUTERS/Aziz Taher
المتظاهرون داخل وزارة البيئة مشنوق طلاع برا #طلعت_ريحتـكم #فيديو pic.twitter.com/LKpN9yb0Pg
— Yumna Fawaz (@yumnafawaz) September 1, 2015
A Lebanese policeman, right, tries to drags away an anti-government activist during a sit-in protest against Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk, inside the Environment Ministry, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept.1, 2015. Lebanese protesters broke into the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the minister over the country’s snowballing trash crisis. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
A Lebanese policeman, right, tries to drags away an anti-government activist during a sit-in protest against Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk, inside the Environment Ministry, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept.1, 2015. Lebanese protesters broke into the Environment Ministry in downtown Beirut Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the minister over the country’s snowballing trash crisis. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
#khazen – What is Next we should focus on electing a Lebanese President? Keep lebanon safe & we need to vote for a #LebanesePresident first – Pray for Lebanon!! #Lebanon
Daily Star:Riot police cleared You Stink campaign protesters Tuesday from the Environment Ministry in Downtown Beirut, hours after activists began a sit-in calling for the minister’s resignation over the protracted trash crisis. Gen. Mohammad Ayyoubi asked all media to leave the building as riot police prepared to clear the floor where protesters continued their sit-in.
One hour later, police were seen carrying protesters out of the building, some of them with bruise marks and others handcuffed, witnesses said. LBC TV host Joe Maalouf, who was present when riot police began clearing the floor, said that protesters and media members were beaten and dragged from the building. An activist, who preferred to remain anonymous, said 14 protesters were still inside the Environment Ministry. All protesters were removed from the building by 9:30 p.m. Activist Mohammad Najem, who was among the last group of protesters to leave the building, underlined that they were not forced to remain inside by security forces. At least one thousand protesters, flanked by riot police, remain camped out at various entrances to the complex, chanting for the resignation of the environment minister. Two hours into the sit-in, the protesters inside the Environment Ministry appeared to be suffering from the heat after employees turned off the air conditioning and electricity, one of the activists announced on Facebook.
BBC news, Activists in Lebanon have occupied the environment ministry, in the latest "You Stink" protest over rotting rubbish in the capital, Beirut.
A video posted on social media showed rows of people sitting on the floor and demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk.
It follows weeks of protests over the government’s failure to remove growing piles of waste on the streets.
The activists have also been demanding snap parliamentary elections.
They said they would remain in the building until Mr Machnouk resigned.
"They did not fulfil our demands. We were all on the streets, tens of thousands of us making our demands. Once more, they are escaping accountability. We will not take it any more," protester Lucien Bourjeily was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
This comes after the "You Stink" movement issued a 72-hour ultimatum on Saturday for the minister to step down.
Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since the country’s largest landfill shut down in July with no ready alternative.
This led to the creation of "You Stink", which blames political paralysis and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis.
Last week, the cabinet failed to reach agreement on a way forward, saying the fees quoted by private waste management companies were too great.
Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year, while members of parliament have extended their own terms until 2017 after failing to agree on a law on fresh elections.
The conflict in neighbouring Syria has also exacerbated political and sectarian divisions, and resulted in the arrival of 1.1 million refugees, putting a strain on the economy and public services.