Posted on 03/14/2005 7:14:22 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at sg.news.yahoo.com ...
Neither Syria nor Hizbollah dare fire into this crowd because to do so would bring down the wrath of GWB and the American forces, and they know it.
Lovely.
The pro syrian demos last week seemed mostly male, but I didn't watch all that closely. Creepy, violent looking males, at that.
IMO the key to defusing islamofascism is liberation of the poor women.
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Anti-Syrian protesters carry Lebanese flags during a rally in Beirut March 14, 2005. Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in central Beirut on Monday in the largest anti-Syrian protest in Lebanon since the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri exactly a month ago. REUTERS/Sharif Karim |
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DAMN! That's a lot of people!
"Can you imagine the headline 'Peaceful protesters hit with artillery and tanks; thousands killed' accompanied by a few pictures of dead women still clutching their Lebanese flags?"
You're right these thugs are backdoor operators. Car bombs, mow down women and children, use retarded children for suicide attackes etc.
Unfortunately, and this includes your peaceful demonstrations from Ghandi on...people are killed.
What is the leadership like among the Lebanese? I think the support they're receiving from Lebanese Americans is important also.
Let's pray for this to work out peacefully.
nick
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Many thousands of Lebanese protestors hold national flags as they gather during a demonstration in Beirut Martyrs square, Lebanon, Monday March 14, 2005. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese answered a call for a massive protest to demand a full Syrian troop withdrawal, resignations of security chiefs and an international investigation into the death of former Premier Rafik Hariri.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla) |
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Wow, go Lebanon! And they are all there voluntarily. Did they really think we were going to fall for the rent-a-demo stunt. Who in their right mind demonstrates for the continued occupation of their country.
Unless my eyes are mistaken, that's quite a few MORE than marched for Hezballah, right?
A WSJ editorial today said that the published estimates of the pro-Syrian demo were 500,000, but their own sources said more like 350,000. In any case, according to the WSJ, a lot were bussed in from Damascus.
Aren't you the dreamer.
Turkish radio now reporting 2 million!
"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."
....music to our ears.....
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