800,000 on streets in revolution to put Lebanon in hands of Hezbollah [View All]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2482819,00.html

Pro-Syria crowd packs city centre

Protesters vow to change government


It was last year’s “Cedar revolution” in reverse. Hundreds of thousands of pro-Syrian protesters waving Lebanese flags rallied yesterday in central Beirut, vowing to remain in the streets until the Western-backed Government was overthrown.

Fouad Siniora, the Prime Minister, says that the Government is determined to remain in power, accusing the Hezbollah-led opposition of attempting to mount a coup and acting on the orders of Syria and Iran.

With neither side willing to give way, many Lebanese fear that the political deadlock will be broken only by violence.

The huge crowd, numbering perhaps 800,000 or almost a quarter of the population, packed two squares in the city centre. They had travelled from all over Lebanon.