Great thread!800,000 Pack Beirut For Opposition Rally
(Anti-Syrian Protests)
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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 ...
Great pic! Great tagline, too. :^)
Great thread!800,000 Pack Beirut For Opposition Rally
(Anti-Syrian Protests)
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Hmmm.. that lebanese girl is a cutie.
It's not as if the Chinese people haven't been trying:
"BEIJING – In an effort to address recent unrest fed by disparate rural, ethnic, and economic tensions, China's leadership has embarked on a "harmonious society" campaign that emphasizes awareness of the country's rich-poor gap, and even tacitly suggests the nation is at a social "crossroads."
At least eight major incidents of violence and rioting have erupted in recent weeks, against a backdrop of thousands of minor incidents in recent years.
A number of the most recent mass blow ups were triggered by minor events, such as a fight or a traffic accident between haves and have-nots, before quickly escalating to involve thousands of people. The prevalence of such cases, where crowd numbers range from 500 to 10,000, suggest a reservoir of anger existing just below China's social surface, as well as a growing "consciousness of rights," say experts like Nicolas Becquelin of Human Rights in China."
...The Chinese magazine Outlook put the 2003 figure of local disturbances about 58,000, involving an estimated 3 million persons.[/snip]
In China, stresses spill over into riots - Christian Science Monitor (11/22/2004)
Hey Iran .. Are ya paying attention
This will soon be coming to a town near you
You mean this guy? Tiananmen 'tank man' still at large - BBC (4/7/1998)
Looks like they saw the Syrian 500,000 and raised it 300,000.
Before you know it, this is going to get series!
Quite a sight, is it not??
It's already HUGH!
Freedom Bump!
FUNNY!!!
I LOVE it!Yes, quite a sight, alright!
A remarkable man.
I have to say, Lebanese women are very beautiful! The pictures from the protests showed women of stunning beauty and passion.
Check out the pic in post 27. Now THAT'S a crowd.
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