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 ...
Answer: Yes!
Really nice! Thanks. :^DWhatcha wanna bet that the Syrian Troops are COMPLETELY out
of Labanon by May per Dubya's demand?I bet they are!
LOL! I just pinged you to this great news. The obligatory "protest babe" shot works just fine if that's what it takes to get the news media to focus on this amazing story. I am so sick and tired of Scott Peterson, Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, and their various relatives, lawyers, mouthpieces, etc., etc., ad nauseum, that I've all but totally given up on TV news.
The actual numbers have to be well over one million. Someone posted that Turkish media are saying two million. Whatever the actual number, its massive in a small nation like Lebanon.
(Read my tagline......... NO RETREAT!)
Do you (or does anyone) know if the man in that photo is a star athlete in Lebanon? If Lebanese celebrities and sports heros join the protests, that can only help the cause.
Good morning, OWF. Here's a NO RETREAT bump.
I love the smell of freedom in the morning! ahhh!
<< MisterRepublican
Next week, Hezbollah will have to start bussing in pro-Syrian demonstrators from Iran >>
Why not?
Half of last week's 250,000 or so were bussed from Damascus. And the other half were Lebanon-based Syrians and their terroristic hesb'Allah surrogates.
Or they could maybe quit while they're behind and just buggar off home.
Other than the Lebanese babe, that last one "Keep Walking" was my favorite.
There are no anti-Syrian protestors. Never.
LOL. Post #41 has a hilarious sign! I don't think Madonna ever thought her songs would be used this way!
Ditto. ;-)
One or two million Lebanese! That's between a third to two thirds of the population in Lebanon! As a percentage it's like 150 MILLION AMERICANS demonstrating at the same time!
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