Lebanon: Beirut “trash protests” turn into an anti-government rally

Massive protests in Beirut, Lebanon, and police trying to disperse
the crowds
(Image: Sputnik News)

Massive protests continue for the second day in Beirut, Lebanon, as thousands of people gather in the central square to protests against the government’s failure to deal with the city’s trash problem, as the piles of rubbish remained in the streets for weeks. Anti-trash protests soon turned into anti-government rallies calling the country’s government to step down.

Tens of thousands of protesters clashed on Saturday and Sunday, 23 August, with Lebanese security forces in Beirut, as riot police attempted to disperse the crowds with tear gas and water cannons. Saturday protests and clashes left at least 55 people injured both protesters and policemen, while Sunday clashes resulted in the injuries of at least 70 people.

Ukraine: clashes erupted in front of the Parliament building during the Rada historical session

Clashes in front of the Parliament building
(Image: The Daily Mail)

Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, has gathered on Tuesday, 14 October, for its last session before the upcoming early parliamentary elections to be held on 26 October. This session was considered being a historical one as Ukrainian MPs were expected to vote for seven important draft laws and initiatives aimed at reforming Ukrainian political and economic system. The Rada session was attended by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who represented also several draft laws and initiatives as well.

EU discusses sanctions against some Ukrainian officials as US Senate holds a meeting regarding current situation in Ukraine as fresh clashes erupted in Kyiv

EU parliamentarian Michael Galer
(Image: Deutsche Welle)

EU continues its talks and consultations regarding the possibility of imposing personal sanctions against some Ukrainian high officials representing the current government or affiliated with it, stated EU parliamentarian and member of European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs Michael Galer in his interview with Deutsche Welle. Though not all the information will be currently revealed due to the sensitivity of the issue and ongoing investigations, added politician.

European Parliament is ready to present its resolution regarding Ukrainian situation. EU condemns use of force. Protests are ongoing

Thousands of Ukrainians gathering on Independence Square
(Image: Euan McDonald)

Western politicians including representatives of USA and EU have strongly condemned recent use of force by Ukrainian government against peaceful protesters when security forces and riot police have attempted to disperse the protests on the night of 11 December and stormed Independence Square, the main site of the protesters.

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of EU, who is in Kyiv since Tuesday, 10 December, has also expressed deep concern of EU and condemned using of force and stripping citizens of their fundamental rights and freedoms, which include freedom of expression, peaceful protests and gatherings. It’s worth mentioning that Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has assured Mrs. Ashton along with other representatives of Western countries that the talks with the oppositional forces will be organized and the force won’t be used again. Thus Mrs. Ashton expressed her disappointment over the recent events as the violent storming of the protesters happened the same night.

Ukraine. Nearly 10-20 thousand protesters arrived on Maidan amid attempt to disperse protests. EU Catherine Ashton holds emergency meeting with EU diplomats

More and more protesters arrive on Independence Square after
night's storming
(Image: Forbes UA)

Nearly 10-20 thousand protesters have gathered in Kyiv downtown on Independence Square on Wednesday night as security forces, riot police and special forces “Berkut” started to surround the site of protests and storm Euromaidan.

Storm has started at 1:30 a.m. local time, as the huge line of riot police and “Berkut” equipped with the shields and sticks has started their storm of the peaceful protests located on Independence Square and in the governmental district. Barricades and block posts of protesters in the governmental district have been destroyed by the police, police pushed protesters back to the Square. Riot police has been approaching Maidan from several directions surrounding the protests site and taking it into a narrow circle. People have been holding their positions trying to protect the barricades. Politicians, activists, artists and priests have been calling from the stage to the policemen and soldiers to disobey criminal orders to attack their own people.

Ukraine is in turmoil for the second day. First statements of officials and authorities start to appear

Massive protests against the regime of Victor Yanukovich
in Kyiv
(Image: UK Wikipedia)

Ukrainian revolution is ongoing for the second day with tens of thousands of people protesting in downtown Kyiv and in other cities all over Ukraine and several administrative buildings taken by protesters.

Massive rally against Ukrainian current authorities and President Victor Yanukovich has started in Ukraine on Sunday, 1 December, after riot police and security forces have violently beaten the peaceful protesters in the sit-in on Independence Square in Kyiv. According to the estimations of the journalists and participants of the protests there were between 750 thousand and 1 million people in Ukrainian capital. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are protesting in other cities as well including Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and other cities, even in Southern and Eastern regions, the regions traditionally supporting Victor Yanukovich and his political power.

Ukraine: Violent dispersal of peaceful pro-European sit-in on Independence Square ended the legitimacy of Yanukovich’s regime

Violent dispersal of sit-in on Independence Square
(Image: AP)

Peaceful sit-in of the supporters of European integration on Kyiv’s iconic Independence Square was violently dispersed by special units of riot police in early hours of Saturday, 30 November.

After Cabinet of Ministers’ statement regarding suspending of processes of preparation to the signing of the Association Agreement with EU and the failure of Vilnius Summit, where the Agreement wasn’t signed, tens of thousands of people remain in the squares and main streets of Ukrainian capital and other cities as well. Peaceful demonstrations calling for the European path and implementing of European values in the country have turned into the rallies calling for changing the power of the state if Victor Yanukovich will not make everything possible to sign the Agreement.