Hezbollah Supporters Hold Massive Rally

Hundreds Of Thousands Swarm Into Beirut Calling For Ouster Of Lebanese PM

(AP)  Hundreds of thousands of protesters from Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies descended on downtown Beirut on Friday in a peaceful but noisy protest to force the resignation of U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, who was holed up in his office ringed by hundreds of police and combat troops.

The protesters created a sea of Lebanese flags that blanketed downtown and spilled onto the surrounding streets. Many chanted slogans demanding Saniora quit amid the deafening sound of Hezbollah's revolutionary and nationalist songs, but no clashes were immediately reported.

The pro-Syria and Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies are struggling to obtain veto-wielding power in the country's Cabinet — a demand Saniora has rejected. The guerrilla group hopes the mass demonstration, which police estimated at 800,000 but Hezbollah claimed was larger, will generate enough popular pressure to further paralyze Saniora's government, forcing it to step down.

A demonstration last week for a slain anti-Syrian politician also drew hundreds of thousands of people to downtown, filling Martyr's Square. But Friday's appeared larger, as protesters swarmed not only that square but others as well as nearby streets and parking lots.

Hezbollah and its allies also called for an open-ended protest and supporters plan to set up camp around the clock in tents that were erected on a road outside Saniora's office and in a downtown square.

"I wish that the prime minister and his ministers were among us today, not hiding behind barbed wire and army armored carriers. He who has his people behind him does not need barbed wire," Michel Aoun, a Christian leader and Hezbollah ally, told the crowd.

Hezbollah has tried to depict the protest as rallying all Lebanese, not just its supporters. It urged demonstrators to wave only the red and white Lebanese flag with its green cedar tree — a stark contrast to past rallies by the group, which saw huge numbers of yellow Hezbollah flags that display a fist and Kalashnikov.

Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nassrallah, who has not made a public appearance since a September rally for the militant group, could not be seen Friday.

Inside the prime minister's building, Saniora went about his schedule, in what appeared to be a tactic to ignore the throngs outside. A day earlier, a defiant Saniora vowed his government would not fall but warned that "Lebanon's independence is threatened and its democratic system is in danger."

Heavily armed soldiers and police closed all roads leading to Saniora's sprawling headquarters that overlooked the massive rally. Barbed wire and other barricades were placed around the stone-walled building to prevent any protests from spilling over during what some newspapers have billed as the "great showdown" between the government and the opposition.

Hezbollah's security men also formed two lines between the protesters and the security forces to prevent clashes.

Saniora supporters accuse Syria of being behind Hezbollah's campaign, trying to regain its lost influence in its smaller neighbor.

Hezbollah and its allies, in turn, say the country has fallen under U.S. domination and that they have lost their rightful portion of power. The group's deputy leader, Sheik Naim Kassim, made it clear on Friday that the fight was against "American tutelage" and said the protest action will continue until the government falls.

The United States has made Lebanon and keeping Saniora in power a key front in its attempts to rein in Syria and its ally, regional powerhouse Iran. U.S. President George W. Bush warned earlier this week that the two countries were trying to destabilize Lebanon.

Lebanon has witnessed a string of assassinations of anti-Syrian figures over the past two years, including a prominent Christian government minister gunned down last week and former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a February 2005 bomb blast.

The battle is a fallout from the summer war between Hezbollah and Israel that ravaged parts of Lebanon. The guerrilla force's strong resistance against Israel sent its support among Shiites skyrocketing, emboldening it to grab more political power and make alliances with some Christians. Hezbollah also feels Saniora did not do enough to support it during the fight.

Pro-government groups, in turn, resent Hezbollah for sparking the fight by snatching two Israeli soldiers, dragging Lebanon into war with Israel.

[laurieleemoo]

well texas is not what i consider the south--really...I am talking more like the Bible Belt...you know the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, etc.---that kind of southern tea.

Okay really have to go now...if I do not respond it is only because I have gone.

Good night once again, scouser

[scouser345-2009]

I live in Texas, tea down here isn't any better. Though the Texas wines are quite delightful

[laurieleemoo]

Maybe you would like southern style tea better.

I love chocolate...I don't care where its from!

and a Jolly Ho to ya!

[scouser345-2009]

F*****G chocolate is worse. The chocolate treats for dogs we have in England taste better than American chocolate. Despite that I have lot to be thankful for, cheers america

[scouser345-2009]

Time for tea and crumpets, you yanks make lousy tea I have to bring 20 boxes back with me evrytime I go back to blighty. I'm running short again

[laurieleemoo]

Good night to you also, my british friend.

[scouser345-2009]

Have a good night laurieleemoo

[scouser345-2009]

Again, whatch it happen before your very own eyes
Let old man Baker bail out Blunderbush

[laurieleemoo]

Bye scouser

[laurieleemoo]

okay..one more...yes....well, yes...that will be very interesting my friend to see those negotiations and what was that...sitting down...with the likes of Syria or Iran or lets see...maybe Osama Bin laden some day....I mean, right this very moment there are people who say we should negotiate directly with Nassarallah (Hezzbollah leader in Lebanon). Yes....how was that again you approach the devil....with a hose...or what. I mean..that whole idea just sounds totally ludicrous to me. Then you have people like Kim Jung Il whom we have already sat down, negotiated with come to agreement and then the little snake was going against the agreement the whole time behind our back while Clinton was in office. And now he wants more footballs. I don't know...is that not like beating your head against a wall?

[scouser345-2009]

Bye bye Laurieleemoo

[scouser345-2009]

I think you missed the point here, There has to be some peacekeeping force in the world today. I agree 100%. Whatever that consists of you have to be able to sit down with you're worst enemies and negotiate. Reagan administration were experts at this. It's no coincidence that James Baker is back in limelight, and please tell me what is he advocating, you guessed it talks with Iran and Syria. How much you wanna bet me these talks are gonna happen. Bush will agree to it too because he has no options left

[laurieleemoo]

okay...scouser...I really must run now. it was really great this go around also. I think we had some real good dialogue here. You take care and see you soon. Good night

Long live the Queen

[laurieleemoo]

and maybe...he spiked their lemonade. Hell...I don't know what their problems are either...those Europeans

[laurieleemoo]

well you know why he can't sell lemonade to the Europeans...anyone in america would have a hard time with this one I think...as we like ice in our lemonade...and they do not. ha!ha!

[laurieleemoo]

marchiavelli was born in 1469---hardly a man of civil times. I do not know any people from that time off hand that I myself would really use as an example.. I like to stick with the present or maybe not too too far back.

[laurieleemoo]

scouser...Germany was not involved in a civil war 3 years after WWII because you were actually dealing with civilized civilians. That is not the case at all in Iraq. That is where the comparison stops. This civil war was in fact created by Iran who has every desire to divide and then conquer Iraq. That is a known fact.

Now...this is where I say...be very careful what you wish for....
You say that America should not be the world's police man. Well you know what...someone has got to do this job. Otherwise the Middle East would really be wreaking havoc and it would have been long ago. You think it is bad now. And what about Europe...where would they be.

You know...when I was young...I was very little and I used to get picked on by bullies. Then I started fighting back...after a while I had all my friends coming to me for help because I became the bully to bullies. True story...no lie. It is kind of the same with America. Now...as I said someone must do the job and we have the excuse me 'balls' for the job so to speak...so why not? Instead...would you rather see it be China...or Russia...or Iran...or North Korea....I mean...this is where I say....be very careful what you wish for.

[scouser345-2009]

"Man ahead of his time" I suppose you think machiavelli was too

[scouser345-2009]

Listen, at this point George Bush couldn't sell lemonade to Europeans never mind his vision for the world

[scouser345-2009]

Hey you're right we do have religous fanatical enemies out there, maybe one day Bush will start fighting them instead of spending billions of invading secular countries that actually counterbalanced those fruitcakes in Tehran