BEIRUT: Thousands of protesters from across Lebanon converged on Saturday on downtown Beirut for a mass rally against a political class seen as corrupt and incapable of providing basic services.

Waving Lebanese flags, some marked “We’ve had enough”, men, women and children gathered at the iconic Martyrs Square which sat on a Christian-Muslim dividing line during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war.

The protest, which officially began at 6pm followed demonstrations last weekend that descended into violence with some protesters clashing with police.

“Today, we’re expecting more than 50,000 protesters,” said Assaad Thebian of the “You Stink” campaign which is stressing the non-partisan nature of the demonstration.

“This is not a protest for political parties. It is for all the Lebanese people... We are against the parties that are exploiting citizens,” said fellow organiser Lucien Bourjeily.

In the absence of political party flags which normally dominate such events in Lebanon, the crowd carried banners bearing blunt messages.

“Ali Baba and the 128 thieves,” read one, in reference to parliament speaker Nabih Berri and the 128-member house.

“Sometimes doing nothing is the most violent thing to do,” read another.

The “You Stink” campaign began in response to a trash crisis that started with the closure of Lebanon’s largest landfill in mid-July, resulting in garbage piling up on the streets of Beirut and beyond.

Since then there have been small protests which have broadened to include demands for a political overhaul of government institutions seen as corrupt and ineffective by many Lebanese.

Organisers have said they would call at Saturday’s demonstration for new parliamentary elections and for the resignation of the environment minister.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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