LEBANESE protesters occupied the Environment Ministry in central Beirut in the latest “you stink” protest against the government yesterday.

The group of about 30 protesters sat cross-legged on the floor, demanding the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed Machnouk over the country’s rubbish collection crisis.

Angry protests, ostensibly over the government’s failure to collect rubbish, have evolved into the most serious anti-government demonstrations in Lebanon in years.

Following a huge protest in central Beirut on Saturday, protesters issued several demands including the minister’s resignation, threatening to escalate action if he wouldn’t go.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Environment Ministry later to support their colleagues inside.

Riot police kept them from entering and gave the occupiers half an hour to leave the building.

But they remained inside after the deadline passed and two of them had fainted from heat and thirst.

“We are here to express our opinion peacefully and we will not leave until the minister resigns,” said protester Lucien Bourjeily from inside the building.

“Instead of resigning from the ministry he resigned from his responsibility to deal with the rubbish issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri announced the first of a series of dialogue sessions over the issue for September 9.

On Monday resistance movement Hezbollah, which has backed the protests, said it “fully supports” the talks as a “serious opportunity” to address Lebanon’s political problems.