http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,13031,1433038,00.html
Around half a million pro-Syria demonstrators took to the streets of the Lebanese capital Beirut today to protest at foreign meddling in the country’s politics and to counter weeks of anti-Syrian rallies.
Scores of vehicles converged on the city for the demonstration organised by Hizbullah, the Shia group backed by Iran and Syria. Loudspeakers blared rousing songs of resistance, organisers handed out Lebanese flags and black-clad Hizbullah guards lined the perimeter of the central square and took position on rooftops. Speakers on a platform led chants of “Beirut is free! America get out!” Large cranes in the centre of the city hoisted two giant white and red flags bearing Lebanon’s cedar tree symbol. On one, the words “Thank you Syria” were written in English, on the other “No to foreign interference”. “We have come here to affirm Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and unity … and say no to the flagrant foreign interference in our affairs,” said cabinet minister Talal Erslan, raising huge cheers from the demonstrators. He added the crowd had gathered “to affirm our gratitude to Syrian president Bashar Assad”. Participants stressed the foreign influence they referred to was from America, France and other countries, not Syria, whose input they considered a welcome help. Meanwhile, reports from the mountains overlooking Beirut said most of the 14,000 Syrian troops deployed in Lebanon were still in position, despite an agreement yesterday by the presidents of the two countries to withdraw foreign forces to eastern regions. The US, which wants Syrian forces out of Lebanon by elections due in May, dismissed yesterday’s deal as a half measure. UN security council resolution 1559, approved last year, demands a full and immediate withdrawal of troops. However, Syria argues the pullback to east of the Beka’a valley complies with the 1989 Taif accord that gave the country a stabilising role in Lebanon. In a speech in Washington, the US president, George Bush, kept up the pressure, arguing democracy was beginning to spread across the Middle East and that authoritarian rule was “the last gasp of a discredited past”. Speaking at the National Defence University, Mr Bush said: “All Syrian military forces and intelligence personnel must withdraw before the Lebanese elections for these elections to be free and fair … freedom will prevail in Lebanon.” He told the Lebanese people the “the American people are on your side”. Syria has had troops in Lebanon since 1976, when they were sent as peacekeepers during 1975-90 civil war. When the war ended, the troops remained and Syria has dominated Lebanon’s politics since. Associated Press journalists in the mountains today reported seeing only scattered movement of military trucks heading towards the valley. A truck carrying 11 soldiers and supplies headed east at midmorning but most of the military traffic was moving in the other direction: empty trucks and buses travelling west, apparently to collect soldiers and equipment. Trained dogs sniffed for bombs and street drainage holes were checked for explosives ahead of the Hizbullah protest. In the outlying regions of the Beka’a and the south, loudspeakers urged followers to travel to Beirut for the gathering. A newspaper reported that convoys of Syrians were being brought across the border in buses to take part but that could not be confirmed. The rally took place just a few blocks from another downtown square where opposition protesters have been staging protests since the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri on February 14. Many Lebanese accuse the Syrian government and their government of responsibility for Mr Hariri’s death, though both deny any involvement. Yesterday, in the biggest demonstration yet of anti-Syrian furore, more than 70,000 Lebanese shouting “Freedom! Sovereignty! Independence!” thronged central Beirut. The demonstrators waved the Lebanese flag and thundered, “Syria out!” Hizbullah, backed by Iran and in part by Syria, has emerged as a key player during the latest political instability, capable of tilting the balance either in favour of the pro-Syrian government or the anti-Syria opposition. Although Hizbullah does not directly oppose a Syrian withdrawal, it is affected by another part of security council resolution 1559 which calls for the disbanding of all militias in Lebanon.