Protesters seek Lebanon PM resignation

[TomInTib]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_protests

Protesters seek Lebanon PM resignation By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
35 minutes ago

Hundreds of thousands of protesters from Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies massed Friday in downtown Beirut seeking to force the resignation of Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, who was holed up in his office ringed by hundreds of police and combat troops.

The protest, which police estimated at 800,000, created a sea of Lebanese flags that blanketed downtown and spilled onto the surrounding streets. Hezbollah officials put the number at 1 million — one-fourth of Lebanon's population.

"Saniora out! We want a free government!" protesters shouted through loudspeakers. The crowd roared in approval amid the deafening sound of Hezbollah revolutionary and nationalist songs. "We want a clean government," read one placard, in what has become the opposition's motto.

Launching a long-threatened campaign to force Lebanon's U.S.-backed government from office, Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies said the demonstration would be followed by a wave of open-ended protests. Hezbollah had threatened demonstrations unless it and its allies obtained a veto share of the Cabinet — a demand Saniora and Lebanon's anti-Syrian parties rejected. The protests now aim to generate enough popular pressure to paralyze the Saniora government and force it out.

Heavily armed soldiers and police had closed all roads to downtown, feverishly unfurling barbed wire and placing barricades.

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[Kagemusha]

1. For police to only be a fifth off Hezbollah's estimate...

Must be a lot of people there, and the police must be under considerable pressure to seem fair.

If it was NYC they'd say 100,000 showed up, right?

[Flabbergasted]

2. This could be disastrous. (On the other hand its hippy heaven)

Protesters Seek Leader’s Ouster in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 1 — The official goal was to overthrow the government, but the atmosphere was bizarrely festive today as hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah supporters poured into the center of Beirut, banging drums, chanting slogans, pressing shoulder to shoulder as they surged past army troops seeking to keep order.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters from Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies massed in downtown Beirut today.
Families with little children, old people and young people all heeded the call of Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim party and militia, packing buses and cars all over the country. By nighttime, however, only several thousand demonstrators remained, smoking water pipes, playing music and vowing to stay, some in tents, until the Western-backed government falls.

“We are having fun, yes,” said Hussein Hanoum, 27, of Hermel in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon, as he lay across a sidewalk in the midst of a huge crowd. “We have no work. We have nothing else to do, so we came to overthrow the government.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/world/middleeast/01cnd-lebanon.html?hp&ex=1165035600&en=67d200735b613ff6&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Sequoia]

3. "We have nothing else to do, so we came to overthrow the government"

Hey, that gives me an idea.....!!

[NOLADEM]

4. LOVE this quote“We have no work. We have nothing else to do, so we came to overthrow the government

That should send a shock down the spine of leaders everywhere.

Gotta keep the population too busy to care about what you are doing to their country.

It's what we do here!

[Flabbergasted]

5. It would be a good signature.

[Ezlivin]

6. Smoking water pipes? "Talkin' 'bout Black Lebanese"

Artist : Humble Pie
Song : 30 Days In The Hole

Roll my tape
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Thirty days...
Anyone doin' that one?
I'm doin' that one

30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole

all right all right all right all right, yeah

Chicago Green, talkin' 'bout Black Lebanese
A dirty room and a silver coke spoon
Give me my release, come on
Black napalese, it's got you weak in your knees
Sneeze some dust that you got buzzed on
You know it's hard to believe

30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
That's what they give you
30 days in the hole
I know

Newcastle Brown, I'm tellin' you, it can sure smack you down
Take a greasy whore and a rollin' dance floor
It's got your head spinnin' round
If you live on the road, well there's a new highway code
You take the urban noise with some Durban Poison
It's gonna lessen your load

30 days in the hole
That's what they give you now
30 days in the hole
Oh, yeah
30 days in the hole
All right, all right
30 days in the hole

What you doin' boy?
You here for 30 days
Get, get, get your long hair cut
And cut out your ways

Black napalese, it got you weak in your knees
Gonna sneeze some dust that you got busted on
You know it's so hard to please
Newcastle Brown can sure smack you down
You take a greasy whore and a rollin' dance floor
You know you're jailhouse-bound

30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
Oh, yeah
30 days in the hole
30 days, 30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole
30 days in the hole

[AnneD]

7. Boy does that take me back...

and I love that line. We have no work...so we are here to over throw the government. :evilgrin:

[Flabbergasted]

9. Back where? Do you know the song?

[AnneD]

14. When I was growing up

Houston had a lively live music scene. It still does, as my daughter-the HS muscian can attest too. She is playing tonight in fact at a house/club in a local neighbourhood. There are many young folks and many venues around town. Hubby is a sitarist and he has performed for over 15 years here. Austin may have the rep-but the artists can make a go of it in Houston.

We had some great groups come in and play a lot but 2 of my favs were Humble Pie and It's a Beautiful Day. Does it ever take me back. Thirty Days was their biggest success.

[Robbien]

12. Why is the NYTimes portraying this protest as just fluff.

When one fourth the population of the city is protesting in the streets, the protest is serious not fluff. This could be the re-start of the Lebanon civil war for chrissakes.

[Flabbergasted]

13. Its far worse....There are UN troops in Lebanon.

[ECH1969]

8. This sounds like the 60s

except for that Hezbollah supporting suicide bombing stuff.

[Flabbergasted]

10. A water pipe can make anything seem like a good idea???

[Flabbergasted]

11. Hey Tom. This could make it all go.....or......

[ianwood]

15. BOLTON DOUBLE STAND

What a hypocrisy by US. On one hand the Hamas Govt. elected by the people are being forced through sections while mass demonstration by the Lebanese people is being describe as a coup led by Syria-Iran. To Mr. Bolton and his cronies, the world in not blind at the injustice
It is funny how the news in the West says it is a Hizbollah demonstrations and Pro-Syrian demonstration. These are Lebanese demonstrations seeking unity,freedom,and independence from a government that only cares about pleasing the US,UK and the West while forgetting the greater good for Lebanon. Christians,moslems,Shia,Sunni,Druuz,Hizbolla h,non-hizbollah are all there this is the fact. This is democracy: power to the people.

[ianwood]

16. This is a similarity to every country that faces problems

As the true defenders of Lebanon against Israeli terrorism, Hezbollah has every right to take control in Lebanon. Hezbollah should be considered the true Lebanese for they protect Lebanon when Siniora can only cry in front of the members of the Arab league and ask for help from foreign nations. Siniora's puppet government is not only plagued by corruption but is unable to take action against the Israeli threat which has killed countless civilians. It is time to let Lebanon be run by Hezbollah.
with its democratic government.if the people see that the democratic government is not working then they will seek for radical powers like Hezbollah as they present more patriotic and radical ideas for a change and a new beginning for them because they faced a lot of troubles in the summer.they only way a difference can happen if the Hezbollah are given represantion in the government as its clear to see that they have rapid support.