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."

[DollyCali]

Mega Goosebumps seeing the pix, reading the info & thinking of all the implications..

May God give freedom seekers the courage to do the right thing & keep them safe.

thanks for thread MR

[wmfights]

All I can say is after all these years of listening to how bad America is in the MSM isn't it great to not only be on the right side of history, but the catalyst of change for the betterment of all mankind. Freedom is always the answer.

[beckaz]

Here's another pic, Karameh is the outgoing (but re-appointed) pro-Syrian Premier.

[Murtyo]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031106-2.html about 1/3 way down the page "Freedom is worth fighting for" - other have said it too. Note the Props to New Hampshire. This whole thing - what's happening in Lebanon now, is beautiful.

[Fred Hayek]

Meanwhile the commentary last night on Airhead Amerika was that the anti-Syrian protesters are a right wing minority (backed by Bush of course), the Syrians and Hezbollah still had the backing of the majority. Airhead went on to describe all the good stuff that Hezbollah was doing like schools and all that (shades of Osama Mama Patty Murray Idiot)

[lutz]

Protest babe ping!