Thousands rally in Lebanon on Hariri anniversary

adminFebruary 14, 2007UncategorisedComments are off for this post

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) 14 feb 2007 — Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people.Troops in full combat gear and armored cars deployed in and around Martyrs’ Square, where the country’s two main rival groups were present: government supporters commemorating Hariri’s death and opposition supporters continuing their daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation.

The soldiers set up a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups, and police conducted body searches of people arriving in the square.At exactly 12:55 p.m. — the time of the explosion that killed Hariri and 22 others — the crowd fell silent except for a muezzin making the Islamic call to prayer and the tolling of a church bell. Standing at the speaker’s podium, Hariri’s son, Saad, and sister, Bahiya, prayed.The speakers addressed the crowd from behind bulletproof glass, calling for approval of a U.N.-created tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri assassination. Please Click READ MORE to view more pictures

Troops and armoured vehicles had been out in force bracing for possible violence with the Hariri rally taking place next to where pro-Damascus opposition rivals have been holding a round-the-clock sit-in since December 1.

"We are here to extend our hand to all Lebanese for dialogue and national unity," said Hariri’s son Saad Hariri on Wednesday, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority that took power in 2005.

Tens of thousands of people carrying candles, flags and balloons in the blue colour of Saad’s political party poured into Martyrs’ Square where Hariri’s tomb lies at the foot of the great Al-Amin mosque.

The anniversary commemorations came at a time of acute crisis in a country still riven by political and confessional divisions and destabilised by a wave of attacks against Damascus critics.

Lebanon’s government has been paralysed since November when six pro-Syrian ministers quit, triggering the launch of a Hezbollah-led campaign to oust the cabinet of Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

Prominent Druze leader MP Walid Jumblatt launched a virulent attack on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, branding him "the dictator of Damascus… a savage… an Israeli product, a liar… and a criminal."

Tensions in Lebanon were exacerbated after three people were killed on Tuesday in twin bus bombings in a primarily Christian area, an attack anti-Syrian figures said was designed to disrupt the commemorations.

It was the latest in a series of attacks blamed on Syria, which stands accused of orchestrating the massive bomb blast that killed Hariri and 22 others on the Beirut seafront on February 14, 2005.

A UN probe has directly implicated senior Syrian officials over the murder although Damascus has strongly denied any involvement.

"We will not surrender and we will not be scared… we will pursue the criminals until the end of time," Samir Geagea said and has also launched an attack on President Lahoud.

The government had declared Wednesday a day of national mourning with government and educational institutions and businesses shut.

Roads leading to Beirut were clogged by convoys of vehicles, with people having to walk the last five kilometres (three miles) to reach Martyrs’ Square.

Security forces erected a barbed-wire fence to separate the rival camps, which engaged in street fights last month that left seven dead.

Anger at Hariri’s murder forced Syria to end three decades of military domination of its smaller neighbour in April 2005 and brought an anti-Syrian movement to power.

Leaders from both sides have called for calm and said Tuesday’s bus attacks were all the more reason to work towards ending divisions in a country still scarred by the 1975-1990 civil war.

"We want to live. All Lebanese people should rise up to stop this cycle of terrorism," said Nadia Saikali, a housewife from Beirut’s Christian neighbourhood of Ashrafiyeh.

The anniversary of the Hariri killing also falls six months to the day since the end of a devastating 34-day war that broke out after Israel retaliated against Hezbollah for capturing two soldiers.

Hezbollah claimed it won a "divine victory" over Israel, which has admitted it failed to achieve its main targets in the war — retrieve two soldiers captured by guerrillas and halt Hezbollah rocket fire.

A pro-government supporter waves a Lebanon flag as tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into Martyr’s square in downtown Beirut to mark the second anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Tens of thousands of Lebanese people climb Martyr’s statue as they gather in Beirut, Lebanon, to mark the second anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. (AP/BEN CURTIS)

Lebanese worshippers prepare to perform Friday prayers at Imam Ali mosque in Beirut, 9 February. Bomb blasts tore through two buses in Lebanon, killing three people as the deeply divided nation prepared to commemorate the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri two years ago.(AFP/File/Marwan Naamani)

A Lebanese youth takes part in a ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the death of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Beirut. Tens of thousands of Lebanese waving flags and balloons massed in the heart of Beirut to mark the murder two years ago of Hariri, with security high after deadly bus bombings.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

AP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News – Feb 14 6:32 AM

AFP/File via Yahoo! News – Feb 13 1:45 AM

Ballons fly over downtown Beiruit during a ceremony to mark the second anniversary of Rafiq Hariri’s death. Tens of thousands of Lebanese waving flags and balloons massed in the heart of Beirut to mark the murder two years ago of Hariri, with security high after deadly bus bombings.(AFP/Ousama Ayoub)

Lebanese youths wave flags during a ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the death of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in the heart of Beirut. Tens of thousands of Lebanese waving flags and balloons massed in the heart of Beirut to mark the murder two years ago of Hariri, with security high after deadly bus bombings.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

A Lebanese holds a banner mocking Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and his Maronite ally General Michel Aoun during a ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the assassination of late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in the heart of Beirut. Tens of thousands of Lebanese waving flags and balloons have massed in the heart of Beirut to mark the murder two years ago of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, with security high after deadly bus bombings.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

Tens of thousands of Lebanese pack into Martyr’s square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon to mark the second anniversary of former prime-minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP

A photograph showing Rafik Hariri and his son Saad Hariri, right on photograph, is held amongst tens of thousands of Lebanese who packed into Martyr’s square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon to mark the second anniversary of former prime-minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Lebanese army troops in full combat gear and armored cars, center, are deployed between opposition supporters continuing their daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation and a pro-government supporters gathering, background, to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, at the Martyrs’ square in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Tens of thousands of government supporters wave Lebanese flags, as they gather in Martyrs’ Square to mark the second anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

Tens of thousands of government supporters wave Lebanese flags as they gather in Martyrs’ square to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister’s Rafik Hariri’s assassination in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, seen through bulletproof glass, waves to the crowd as tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into Martyr’s square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon to mark the second anniversary of former prime-minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Saad Hariri, third right, son of Rafik Hariri, seen through bulletproof glass, stands with Druse political leader Walid Jumblatt, right, Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad, second right, Christian leader Samir Geagea, left, as tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into Martyrs’ square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP Photo)

A Lebanese government supporter, holding a Lebanese flag, is searched by police before attending a rally to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Some thousands of Lebanese people gathered Wednesday at the city center grave of Hariri to mark the second anniversary of his assassination as the government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, seen through bulletproof glass, brings his hands to his face as the crowd observes a moment’s silence, as tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into Martyr’s square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon to mark the second anniversary of former prime-minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, a day after two bombs killed three people. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter violence and hoped a large turnout would strengthen its position against the Hezbollah-led opposition. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Lebanese shout pro-government slogans and hold Lebanese flags as they attend a rally to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Thousands of Lebanese gathered Wednesday at the city center grave of Hariri to mark the second anniversary of his assassination as the government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Supporters of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri gather at Martyrs Square during a mass rally in Beirut February 14, 2007. Around 300,000 Lebanese waving flags and blue balloons demonstrated in Beirut on Wednesday to honour al-Hariri, two years after the ex-premier’s killing, and show support for the anti-Syrian government. REUTERS/ Wadih Shlink (LEBANON)

Lebanese army patrols Beirut’s main road to prevent possible confrontation between government and opposition supporters in Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Thousands of Lebanese gathered Wednesday at the city center to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and to mark the second anniversary of his assassination. Government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Lebanese army secures a street to prevent possible confrontation between government and opposition supporters in Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Thousands of Lebanese gathered Wednesday at the city center to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and to mark the second anniversary of his assassination. Government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Hezbollah security men, foreground, stand guard to secure opposition supporters’ continuing daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation, while a pro-government supporters gathering, background, takes place marking the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, as Lebanese army troops in full combat gear and armored cars, center, are deployed between the two groups at the Martyrs square in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese government supporters carry Lebanese flags as they arrive to Martyrs’ square on a truck to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Waving flags, holding balloons and even praying, tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination. The government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)

A Lebanese woman holding a decorative banner with a picture of the late prime minister Rafiq Hariri, walks past soldiers as she arrives to attend a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Hariri’s death. Tens of thousands of Lebanese waving flags and balloons massed in the heart of Beirut to mark the murder two years ago of Hariri, with security high after deadly bus bombings.(AFP/Ousama Ayoub)

The tents of the opposition supporters continuing their daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation, foreground, as the pro-government supporters gather nearby, background, to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, at the Martyr’s square in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. The lebanese army set up a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups, and police conducted body searches of people arriving in the square. Many thousands packed into the square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese army closes Beirut’s main road to prevent possible confrontation between government and opposition supporters in Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Thousands of Lebanese gathered Wednesday at the city center to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and to mark the second anniversary of his assassination. Government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

AP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 3:55 AM

Lebanese supporters of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri wave flags as blue balloons fly over Martyrs Square during a mass rally in Beirut February 14, 2007. Lebanese supporters of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri wave a huge flag at Martyrs Square during a mass rally to mark the second anniversary of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in central Beirut. REUTERS/ Sharif Karim (LEBANON)

A Lebanese pro-government supporter, hangs a huge poster showing slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, top, and his son Saad Hariri, during a ceremony to mark the second anniversary of Hariri’s assassination in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Two female Lebanese pro-government supporters, hold portraits of former prime minister Rafik Hariri with Arabic words reading:’We miss you,’ as they gather with other supporters to mark the second anniversary of Hariri’s assassination in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

The tents of opposition supporters continuing their daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation, foreground, are seen as a pro-government supporters gathering, right background, to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination takes place at the Martyrs square in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. The Lebanese army set up a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups, and police conducted body searches of people arriving in the square. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people

A Lebanese policeman carries a barrier on his scooter while army closes Beirut’s main road to prevent possible confrontation between government and opposition supporters in Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Thousands of Lebanese gathered Wednesday at the city center to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and to mark the second anniversary of his assassination. Government deployed hundreds of troops to deter trouble, a day after two bombs killed three people. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Lebanese army troops in full combat gear and armored cars, center, are deployed between opposition supporters continuing their daily sit-in to demand the government’s resignation, left, and pro-government supporters gathering, right, to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, at the Martyrs square in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2007. The soldiers set up a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups, and police conducted body searches of people arriving in the square. Tens of thousands packed into a city square Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as hundreds of troops were deployed a day after bus bombings killed three people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Women chant slogans during a mass rally to mark the second anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in central Beirut February 14, 2007. Around 300,000 Lebanese waving flags and blue balloons demonstrated in Beirut on Wednesday to honour al-Hariri, two years after the ex-premier’s killing, and show support for the anti-Syrian government. Blue balloons are seen in the background. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON