LEBANON: Opposition Lebanese Christians camped out in Martyrs Square start preparing Christmas celebrations next to Prime Minister's office

Thousands of Christian opposition protesters belonging to the Free Patriotic Movement led by Christian leader Michel Aoun, started setting up Christmas trees in downtown Beirut where they will celebrate their Christmas while maintaining the ongoing sit-in aiming to topple the U.S-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Aoun's supporters decorated a 15 metre-long tree and lit it on Monday (December 18). They have also set up dozens of Christmas trees in their tents and around the protest camp to bring in the festive mood of Christmas. They are also planning to hold a Christmas service in Martyrs Square, where thousands from Lebanon's Christian community are expected to participate. "We are preparing many activities for Christmas and Eid al Adha and the new year. We will light the big Christmas tree in a few hours and hold a concert on Saturday (December 24) for the children, where Santa Clause will distribute presents for the children, plus hold a service on Christmas Eve where thousands of people will participate," said Alsi Mufarrej, head of the media office for the Free Patriotic Movement. "We are organising all these activities to prove that the opposition is embracing the spirit of Christmas and we want that to reach the authority behind the barbed wires," Mufarrej added. The Shi'ite group Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, and its allies in the opposition have taken to the streets and are holding an indefinite sit-in to force the resignation of the Western-backed government. Fears grew that Lebanon's anti-government protests could turn into sectarian violence. As fears of sectarian strife is increasing in Lebanon, the army is on high alert and has been heavily deployed throughout Beirut. Nevertheless, the general mood at the opposition camp is of unity and understanding amongst Lebanon's religious mosaic present in the sit-in. "It is probably the first time we will spend Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in this square. We put the Christmas tree amongst the tents. It is the first time for some people to spend Christmas with us. Indeed we noticed a lot of participation from other parties and groups during the preparations, as if we are one family," Antwan Mukhaibar, a senior member in the Free Patriotic Movement said. Opposition parties have set up tents, toilets, and water outlets, to cater for steady crowds fortifying the ongoing sit-in, making protesters comfortable with their revolutionary life-style to a point where some have started viewing their tents as home.

ITN Source | December 19, 2006

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