Large anti-gov't protest held in Beirut

[Scurrilous]

on edit (headline change): Beirut rally: Death to Israel, US

Masses spread out over two city center squares protesting against Siniora government, protests likely to intensify

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3338218,00.html

<snip>

"Hundreds of thousands of protesters thronged central Beirut's two central squares, Riyad al-Solh Square and Martyrs' Square on Sunday to participate in the Hizbullah -led opposition's second rally.

In a huge show of force, the chanting crowds swamped two squares in the heart of the capital and rivers of men, women and children poured through surrounding streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

"Siniora out," demonstrators shouted. "Beirut is free," others yelled as possibly the biggest rally in Lebanon's history kicked off in bright sunshine.

Hizbullah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, said during his speech at the anti-government rally in Beirut, "his is the largest crowd ever to attend a demonstration in Lebanon."

[msongs]

1. betcha most people in Lebanon were NOT there. crowd size means nothing

when it is orchestrated and manipulated. The terrorists faction is a minority in the government as elected by the people. the majority do not seem to participate in this event. Wonder how many of those people are imported from Syria.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[High Plains]

3. Whistling past the graveyard...

[allemand]

2. Security source: "the largest such gathering ever seen in Lebanon".

There were no official estimates of the crowd size on Sunday but one security source said it was the largest such gathering ever seen in Lebanon. Opposition sources said the crowd was 2 million strong -- roughly half Lebanon's population.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/061210/137/6a6c8.html

"Change is coming," the opposition banners boasted as a sea of demonstrators waving Lebanese flags spilled into the streets surrounding the offices of Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

Fully veiled Shiite women, Christian students wearing T-shirts and fathers hoisting children on their shoulders were among the crowds who cheered a series of opposition speakers urging the resignation of the anti-Syrian government.
...

"This is a sea of demonstrators unprecedented in the history of Lebanon," an army spokesman said, estimating that "hundreds of thousands" had gathered in the heart of Beirut and on access roads to the city center.

In addition to red-and-white Lebanese flags, some demonstrators waved orange banners and photos of Christian former general Michel Aoun, as well as yellow Hezbollah flags and the green standards of the Shiite movement Amal.
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061210/afp/061210150036int.html

[David__77]

4. I wish them luck!

The regime in power is treasonous.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. So you'd rather have Syria back in control of Lebanon?

Because that's what these people want.

[David__77]

7. I want NO foreign troops in Lebanon, under any banner.

I support the foreign policy of the protesters. It is in Lebanon's national interest.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. What the fuck are you talking about?

This was a pro-Syrian demonstration, not a pro-Lebanon demonstration. I'm curious - what is your idea of what the protesters are demanding?

No foreign troops under any banner, eh? So you don't support the UN mission in Lebanon?

[David__77]

9. No, I don't support the UN mission.

Actually, I think I was pretty clear...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

14. So who do you support?

Hezbollah? The government of Lebanon?

[allemand]

11. No, it was not a "pro-Syrian" demonstration.

I'm also curious: what is your idea of what the protesters are demanding? Ever heard of General Aoun?

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[allemand]

10. BS. n/t

[bemildred]

5. Leading Lebanon from a gilded cage

BEIRUT — In the palace on the hill, the chants and curses from the street below are easy to hear.

The voices float up through the clear wintry air, wisps of tension rising from the roiling anti-government demonstrations. Weary ministers listen to the heart-pounding bass beat of Hezbollah fighters' anthems, the political speeches screamed into microphones, the roar of the crowd. After sunset, the glare of floodlights arches like a gigantic halo over the tent city that's cropped up in the upscale shopping districts of downtown.

Inside the Grand Serail, what remains of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government toils away, trying to ignore the thousands upon thousands of people massed at its gate. The people outside describe the government leaders as unwanted and illegitimate, pawns of U.S. interests.

"We hear their voices, but we feel no compassion for them," said Fouad Saad, a lawmaker and former Cabinet minister who, in his neat suit, lingered between meetings under the glittering chandeliers of a cavernous reception room. "These people have received orders from Syria and Iran…. They are trying to drag us backward many years."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-palace10dec10,0,2175632.story?page=1&track=tottext

[allemand]

12. Christian supporters of Gen. Aoun turned out in large numbers to

demonstrate against the Siniora government. They are not pro-Syrian.

Colors of opposition mix with national flags as various groups answer call to protest
'I'm here today to express my opinion as it is my democratic right to do so'

By Nour Samaha
Daily Star staff
Monday, December 11, 2006

BEIRUT: Downtown Beirut was engulfed on Sunday in a sea of red-and-white Lebanese flags dotted with yellow, orange and green, as opposition supporters descended for the 10th consecutive day to demand a greater role in government. The atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation, as balloons the color of opposition parties' flags floated in the sky and chants demanding the removal of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora filled the air.

The streets were home to groups of boys, girls, and entire families, all decked out in yellow, green or orange. Cries of "General!" - a reference to MP Michel Aoun, a former army commander - could be heard clearly from all corners of the demonstration, not just by those wearing his Free patriotic Movement's orange, but also by those decorated in yellow and green as well.

-snip-

"You want to know why I'm here?" asked Alain, a second-year student in bio-medical engineering at the American University of Science and Technology. "When Israel left the mountains of Lebanon after the Civil War, Jumblatt killed the Christians and burned their homes. When Israel left the South in this recent war, give me one Christian that was slapped by Hizbullah. This is why we're with Hizbullah - they have never harmed us.

"This government is made up of the 'Lords of War,' who killed Christians in the mountains during the civil war. We're with Aoun because he's the only honest Christian leader, and whose slate, like Nasrallah, is completely clean. So I'm going to keep coming as long as the general asks me to."
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=77555

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

15. Well, good.

Just so long as the bloodbath's going to be for the right reasons.

[moondust]

16. The one word I never hear or see in coverage of these protests:

"ELECTION"

It never goes beyond "GET RID OF THE GOVERNMENT!"

I wonder why. :sarcasm:

[allemand]

17. The opposition is calling for new elections if a national unity government

is not formed:

The Christian opposition leader, Michel Aoun, a former army chief, told Mr Siniora he had days to either accept a national unity government or face actions that would lead to a transitional government and early elections.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,1969171,00.html

I agree that the coverage of the protests could be better.