Ambassadors Avert Lebanese Prime Minister From Resigning

Several ambassadors contacted Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam to dissuade him from resigning over the country's trash-collection crisis, An Nahar daily reported Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The newspaper reported, citing ministerial sources, that the prime minister had received phone calls from top diplomats of Arab countries and the European Union asking him not to resign, fearing the country would fall into turmoil.

On Saturday, thousands of Lebanese activists took to the streets of Beirut to protest government corruption and political inaction amid a spreading garbage crisis.

Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

At least 15 demonstrators and 35 police officers were injured during the clashes, according to media reports.

Following the incident, Salam said the country's officials "share the pain" with those who had been injured during the protests, and that all parties responsible for violence against the protesters in Lebanon would be brought to justice.

Salam stated that the council of ministers would become unnecessary if the Thursday cabinet session did not yield results, hinting at his resignation.

Thousands of tons of garbage have been left uncollected in Lebanon following the closure of the country’s main landfill in July.

Lebanon has been in a political vacuum after then-President Michel Suleiman stepped down in 2014, and parliament could not agree on a candidate.