800,000 Pack Beirut For Opposition Rally (Anti-Syrian Protests)

Yahoo! News Singapore ^ | March 14, 2005 | Agence France-Presse

[MisterRepublican]

An emboldened Lebanese opposition mobilized more than 800,000 people to demand an end to Syrian military domination of Lebanon, hurling a potent challenge to the Syrian-backed government here.

Beirut city official Mounib Nassereddine said the estimate of 800,000 did did not include demonstrators who were still arriving from all parts of the country ahead of the rally.

Thousands of Lebanese had made their way throughout the morning to the capital by car, bus and boat, heading for Martyrs Square and the grave of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, assassinated exactly one month ago in a bomb blast.

Lebanese television aired spectacular pictures of a massive throng in the square, showing thousands of demonstrators waving the red, white and green Lebanese flag in bright sunshine against the deep blue of the Mediterranean in the background.

Nassereddine said Monday's gathering was "at least two and a half times" larger than last Tuesday's turnout called by pro-Syrian Lebanese parties, notably the Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah. AFP correspondents estimated the crowd last week at 400,000.

"Hezbollah organized a giant demonstration last Tuesday to intimidate us," said Nada, 35, as she travelled to Beirut from Zahle in the east.

"Today we're taking up the challenge and invite it to join us because we represent the true majority of the country."

Added Anwar: "The Syrian people are our brothers. We have ties that go back centuries but the Syrian army and the mukhabarat (intellence service) are no longer welcome in Lebanon."

Huguette Yamine, a 57, said Monday's poltical demonstration was her first.

"I came with 10 family members. We walked here all the way from the other side of Beirut. We've had enough. I want my children to live in a free and democratic Lebanon."

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[My2Cents]

Amazing.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[gopwinsin04]

[M. Espinola]

Freedom Now!!

[jriemer]

Looks like the ME version of Panama City Beach at spring break.
"Party with Thousands"

[M. Espinola]

Great headline! ("Was Bush right after all?")

YES!

[gopwinsin04]

[melancholy]

>>Whatcha wanna bet that the Syrian Troops are COMPLETELY out
of Labanon by May per Dubya's demand?

I bet they are!<<

I second that. The Syrian "mild resistance" to a FAST, complete withdrawal is just the normal Arab bravado: you-ain't-gonna-tell-us-what-to-do statement.

Syria isn't worried about Lebanon anymore; it's Ass_ad's a$$ which is now in the balance! LOL

[gopwinsin04]

Syria's defense ministers...

[RoseofTexas]

My goodness these folks look like any US city youth! I had no idea their culture was so open! Wow! Look at those girls with those low cut shirts...I'LL BE! What an eye opener!

[gopwinsin04]

Check out the Nike swoosh...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BBC is reporting that the crowd is one million:

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Last Updated: Monday, 14 March, 2005, 18:16 GMT

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Printable version

'Record' protest held in Beirut

Beirut's Martyrs' Square was packed solid with people

Nearly one million people have gathered for an opposition rally in Beirut, officials say - a month after the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says the crowds turned the city centre into a sea of red, white and green - the colours of Lebanon's national flag.

They were protesting against the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon.

The demonstration surpassed recent pro-Syrian rallies and is thought to be the biggest in Lebanese history.

Syria has pulled back some of its troops in Lebanon to the border.

Damascus also promised the UN a full timetable for the withdrawal of its 14,000 troops and intelligence agents.

The move was cautiously welcomed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a "positive development".

Meanwhile military intelligence officers left two offices in the north, in the town of Amyoun in Koura region and Deir Ammar on the coast, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Fears of violence

Beirut city official Mounib Nassereddine told AFP news agency more than 800,000 people had turned out for the protest, which would make it the biggest demonstration held in the country's history.

AP also estimated the same turnout, with people still arriving.

Demonstrators packed Martyrs Square, near where Hariri died in a car bomb, and the crowd spilled over into nearby streets.

We are coming to liberate our country - we are coming to demand the truth Fatma Trad Sunni Muslim In pictures: Beirut rally Lebanon: Have your say

The sea of people fell silent at 1255 (1055 GMT), the exact time Hariri was killed four weeks ago.

Unlike previous anti-Syrian rallies, Sunni Muslims came out in force to join Druze and Christians to commemorate the loss of their leader.

A stream of buses and cars brought protesters from the eastern Bekaa Valley, while others arrived from Junieh in the north by sea.

"We are coming to liberate our country. We are coming to demand the truth," Fatma Trad, a Sunni from the northern area of Dinniyeh, told AP.

Many offices and schools closed early for the demonstration.

Our correspondent says a lot more effort went into organising this event, and the media owned by Hariri was a driving force.

The opposition will try to keep the momentum until parliamentary elections in May, she adds.

Pro-Syrian rallies have been held in recent weeks

An investigation is continuing into Hariri's death and the opposition has demanded the resignation of senior security officials.

Druze opposition MP Marwan Hamadeh told the huge crowd: "You want the truth [about Hariri's killing]? It's clear... the world and Lebanon know them [the killers] well, know them one by one, name by name, rank by rank."

Protesters have also been angered by President Emile Lahoud's reinstatement of the pro-Syrian Prime Minister, Omar Karami.

Withdrawal commitment

But correspondents say fears are growing that protests could spill over into violence, with the authorities considering a ban on protests after Monday.

Both President Emile Lahoud and Maronite Christian Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, a leading opposition mentor, have urged dialogue as an alternative to protests as a way out of the crisis.

Sunday saw a mass pro-Syrian rally, this time in the town of Nabatiyeh.

Tens of thousands of people voiced support for the Syrian military presence and against American intervention at the rally organised by the Hezbollah militant group.

After talks in Syria on Saturday with President Assad, UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen announced that he had received a commitment that Damascus would provide details of its withdrawal plan.

[Caged in Canuckistan]

Hit the nail on the head on that one.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I love that Banner>>>>

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This is such a HUGE DEAL!!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

My goodness these folks look like any US city youth! I had no idea their culture was so open! Wow! Look at those girls with those low cut shirts...I'LL BE! What an eye opener!

AND THAT is why the BURKA LOVERS....are up so tight....the Americanization of the World....deeply disturbs them.

[Caged in Canuckistan]

Looks like the Lebanese people are standing for freedom and liberty. Time to stand with them...

Bush to Assad: "Get out, or the bombing begins in five minutes"

[Valin]

BUMP!

[gopwinsin04]

The media is catching on finally...(maybe)

[RoseofTexas]

Those signs in English are not PHOTO SHOP are they? If not...WOW! I'm in AWE and just to think it's .......
ALL BUSH'S FAULT!!! Bawhahahhahah....


Lord continue to bless W in EVERYTHING he touches!! Consume and swallow his enemies with their own evil venom and hatred!!