Thousands rally in Beirut

[seriousstan]

Thousands of demonstrators shouting "Syria Out!" rallied in downtown Beirut late on Sunday after opposition movements vowed to defy a ban on public demonstrations.


Youngsters carrying the Lebanese flag were converging on Martyrs' Square, where the opposition has called for a peaceful sit-in on Monday in defiance of the ban, which comes into force at 0300 GMT.

"We are going to hand out blankets, we are staying here," one of the demonstrators said by loudspeaker.

Hundreds of heavily armed troops were deploying with jeeps and trucks at all the main crossroads leading to the square.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2A7D65DB-CF0D-49CC-BEA2-3E1B1FEA8D0D.htm

[ECH1969]

1. It will be a bloodbath

When Syria cracks down on these guys.

[seriousstan]

2. Like in Ukraine?

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Hold on to your hat: Clashes feared at Beirut protests (BBC)

From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday February 27 23:56 GMT (3:56 pm PST)

Clashes feared at Beirut protests

Lebanese opposition groups are set to rally in Beirut on Monday, defying a ban and sparking fears of clashes.
Opponents of the Syria-backed government are gathering to demand an inquiry into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The ban was imposed after pro-government groups called for a counter-demonstration at the same time and place as the anti-government one.

A US official is visiting Lebanon to push for an end to Syrian influence.

Read more.

[hector459]

3. I hate any occupation. But this time we really engineered this by the

assassination of a dearly loved Lebanese. I have my doubts that Syria would be behind such a stupid act because it would produce the results that it has. You have got to think: Who benefits? US and Israel in this case.

[ECH1969]

4. That implies Assad is calling all the shots in Syria

I think it is more likely there are alot of different groups and alot of corrupt officials acting seperately from the orders of Assad.

[Colorado Blue]

8. Maybe in the long run the people of Lebanon will benefit

from getting rid of the Syrian occupation. Certainly they seem to be speaking out and that can't be a bad thing.

[daleo]

5. It is a rather tight crowd shot (on the link).

We all know that means the crowd size is probably being estimated high (recall the Saddam statue tear-down and its tight shots of what turned out to be sparse crowds). That said, I imagine all of the various factions in Lebanon can probably drum up a fair sized crowd for a demonstration. There certainly seems to be an agenda about Syria showing up in the press lately, though.

[CHIMO]

6. May Be Another Haiti

A time for unity or opportunism?


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/14BD0F9C-D346-4CD4-94B6-5DD260A71875.htm

[seriousstan]

9. Funny how this story turned out.