Posted on 03/02/2005 6:48:36 AM PST by Eurotwit
BEIRUT: In defiance of an official ban against demonstrations and an orchestrated attempt to block highways leading to the capital, tens of thousands of people converged on Martyrs' Square in Downtown Beirut on Monday, many of whom had been there for the entire night.
"They said they will prevent people from protesting as of Monday 5 a.m.," said Adnan Zaghlouli on Sunday evening. "We gathered from tonight to join tomorrow's protest."
Zaghlouli and his friends' left Tripoli on Sunday afternoon after hearing Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh's statement calling on the Internal Security Forces "to take all necessary steps to preserve security and order and prevent demonstrations and gatherings on Monday."
As soldiers manning barriers in central Beirut prevented hundreds of protesters from getting into the square, those already inside quickly came to their aid. Gathering in groups of 50, 60 and sometimes 100, demonstrators distracted discretely cooperative soldiers by rushing them in a staged fury, while those on the outside snuck in.
Mario Saad, 18, said: "Today we are calling for the government's resignation. Even, if the parliamentary procedures fail, the people have made their choice; they want a government free of foreign influence."
At around 11:30 p.m., the highway from Jounieh leading to the capital was blocked by a convoy of Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement supporters with more than 200 cars headed to the protest.
"We are all together here to say that we have had it," said Myriam Khoury and Danielle Kattar, both 24.
Kattar added: "We came here to express our opinion, and no one can intimidate
us anymore."
Khoury said: "We have had enough of being governed by incompetent people. We deserve to be represented by a new political class that stands for us."
Former Finance Minister and MP Fouad Siniora, a member of Hariri's Beirut Dignity Bloc, was visibly impressed by the scene unfolding before him in Martyrs' Square.
He said: "Hariri has for the first time united the country; he has created a base."
Opposition MP Nayla Mouawad drew thundering cheers from the gathered demonstrators Sunday night when she announced that three ministers had resigned form the government. Even though she later withdrew her statement, the crowd's enthusiasm was not affected.
Sarkis Doueihi, a member of the Bristol opposition gathering from Zghorta, said: "It is my first time to participate in a demonstration. Although it does not really look like a demonstration, it is a clear call for freedom. I am actually seeing today what I have learnt in books about the 1943 independence."
Shortly before 5 a.m. Monday, people were already up and organized, shouting slogans of freedom, sovereignty and independence.
"Al-Hamdulillah (Thank God) we are re-writing history," said Hassan Abu-Ali, 79, who came all the way from Aramoun, in Mount Lebanon.
"I will finally see my country free before I die."
For those who couldn't make it Downtown on Monday, Lebanon's congested coastal highway evolved into a motorized forum for anti-government protesters who waved Lebanese flags and chanted anti-Syrian slogans in the midst of bumper-to-bumper traffic.
As far away as Dbayye, some 15 kilometers from the capital, thousands of vehicles thronged the streets, undeterred by the government's efforts to choke off traffic by setting up a string of intimidating checkpoints.
The ensuing gridlock
was massive even by Leban-
ese standards.
But if the plan was to minimize the volume of demonstrators, it may well have backfired.
Rather than turn around, motorists and passengers seemed bent on making their voices heard; forming a singular line of protest that snaked along the coastline.
In Dora, on the outskirts of Beirut, many left their cars behind and marched through the center of the freeway traffic sprawl. Young men and women wearing colorful bandanas waved oversized Lebanese flags and shouted anti-Syrian profanities as machine-gun-toting police and soldiers looked on.
In Martyrs' Square a week before, during the first protest held after Hariri's assassination, a sea of flags for different political parties marked
the demonstration. Monday's protest was dramatically different; it raised only one flag: that of Lebanon.
one thing i dont understand is why is Syria and company doing all this? This seems so unlike them and there is no real advantage for them to do it... It all just seems way to easy...
Hey! There's some good looking Lebanese women!
What a handsome people they are!
Outstanding
Wow.
These Lebanese chicks are hot. This is the sexiest revolution I've ever seen.
Great Pics , that's really freedom .
:-)
The Burka's will not be missed!!
They are really sweet, I know a couple personally (not well enough, however...).
It's a beautiful scene, but it could quickly turn to hell-on-earth. Syria is a tremendous dark cloud that could either blow away or burst any second.
Reminds me of the old joke about two guys in a bar. Two babes come in, and one of the guys gets interested immediately. Other guy says, dont bother, they are lesbans. First guy says, yeah? Watch this! Walks up to the two babes and says, so hows things in Beirut?
I think Syria now has to figure out how to get the WMD out of the Bekaa valley. With Israel and USA satellites watching, leaving Lebanon is probably wise.
Take away the flags and banners, and it almost looks like a typical crowd in NY.
Great photos, great post!
(And IMHO, if Syrians try anything resembling Tiamnamen square, send their Russian tanks some `Hellfire' greetings)
You have done a great job in keeping us up to date on this story. Thanks.
What percentage of the population is Christian?
Market Tip: Buy stock in George W. Bush's Legacy.
That seems to be the consensus in the blogosphere. I think I'm really going to enjoy this revolution. (I think Bush should make a comment about it.)
And my FAVORITE!
Rock on Lebanon.
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