LEBANON: Huge demo in Beirut piles pressure for Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to resign

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on central Beirut on Sunday (December 10) for a mass rally called by the Hezbollah-led opposition to escalate their drive to oust Lebanon's Western-backed government. There were no official estimates of the size of the crowd but one security source said it was the largest such gathering ever seen in Lebanon. Opposition supporters have been camping out in central Beirut since December 1, paralysing the heart of the capital and vowing not to budge until Prime Minister Fouad Siniora bows to their demands for a government of national unity. More supporters poured into Beirut from around the country, flags fluttering from bus windows and protesters flashing victory signs as they headed for the centre. Thousands of soldiers and police tightened security in the capital. One Shi'ite protester has been killed and several people hurt in shooting incidents, riots and clashes between supporters of both sides over the past week. In a show of force, the chanting crowds swamped two squares in the heart of the city and rivers of men, women and children poured through surrounding streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "Siniora out," the crowds shouted. "Beirut is free," others yelled as one of the biggest rallies in Lebanon's history kicked off in bright sunshine. "We are here to topple the government cause it is corrupt, we want a clean government. If it was clean all parties would join. Does the Free Patriotic movement represent the Lebanese? Does Hezbollah represent the Lebanese? As long as Hezbollah is out of the government it is a failure," George, a Lebanese protester said. Pro-government rallies were held in several areas on Saturday (December 9), highlighting the deep divisions among the Lebanese. Siniora and the Sunni-led ruling majority have refused to give in, accusing the Shi'ite Hezbollah of trying to stage a coup in the wake of their 34-day war against Israel this year. Hezbollah says Siniora and his anti-Syrian allies had wanted Israel to crush the group. Hezbollah and its allies want to be given the power of veto in a new government and say if the demand is not met, they will push instead for early elections. Siniora's supporters say Hezbollah simply wants to derail plans to set up an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, which many Lebanese blame on Syria, a charge Damascus denies. Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud refused on Saturday to endorse plans for the court, saying the depleted cabinet had acted unconstitutionally last month when it had moved to approve the project. Commentators have warned that the worsening stand-off could degenerate into wide-scale violence in a country that is still trying to rebuild after the 1975-90 civil war. "I do not know what the greater cause is that is pushing to this highly tense political chaos, and the open sit-ins. Is this the best way to achieve goals, whatever they are?" Siniora said in a televised speech to hundreds of Lebanese figures holding a one year memorial to the assassination of Anti-Syrian Lebanese journalist Jubran Tweini. Anti-government Ad-Diyar newspaper said the opposition would up the stakes on Monday by calling strikes that would lead to a civil disobedience campaign. A U.S. State Department official on Saturday (December 9) accused Syria and Iran, Hezbollah's allies, of trying to destabilise Lebanon and said the situation was of "very significant concern". Saudi Arabia strongly backs Siniora and is worried by the rising influence of Shi'ite power Iran through its support for Hezbollah, Shi'ite parties in Iraq and an alliance with Syria.

ITN Source | December 10, 2006

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