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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Huge Beirut rally demands change | Huge Beirut rally demands change |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have held a mass rally in Beirut to protest against Lebanon's government. | Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have held a mass rally in Beirut to protest against Lebanon's government. |
| Amid tight security, demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. | Amid tight security, demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. |
| The opposition says it will keep up the pressure until the government resigns. | The opposition says it will keep up the pressure until the government resigns. |
| The protests follow weeks of rising tension in Lebanon, with the killing of a leading anti-Syrian politician and resignations from the cabinet. | The protests follow weeks of rising tension in Lebanon, with the killing of a leading anti-Syrian politician and resignations from the cabinet. |
| Mr Siniora has vowed to resist what he called an attempted coup. | Mr Siniora has vowed to resist what he called an attempted coup. |
| Hezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions. | Hezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions. |
| We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement... to rid us of an incapable government Sheikh Hassan NasrallahHezbollah leader Send us your comments Lebanon crisis explained href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6200010.stm" class="">In pictures: Beirut rally | |
| Speaking from behind a bullet-proof glass screen, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said the government was not one of national unity and so was not constitutional. | Speaking from behind a bullet-proof glass screen, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun said the government was not one of national unity and so was not constitutional. |
| "I call on the prime minister and his ministers to resign," he told the cheering crowd, many of them waving the flag of Lebanon. | "I call on the prime minister and his ministers to resign," he told the cheering crowd, many of them waving the flag of Lebanon. |
| Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has been emboldened by a conflict with Israeli forces in the summer that destroyed many parts of southern Lebanon but failed to shatter his movement's militia. | Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has been emboldened by a conflict with Israeli forces in the summer that destroyed many parts of southern Lebanon but failed to shatter his movement's militia. |
| Hezbollah accuses the Lebanese government of failing to support it during the conflict. | Hezbollah accuses the Lebanese government of failing to support it during the conflict. |
| However, the anti-Syrian parties that have the majority in government accuse Hezbollah of serving Syrian interests in their country. | However, the anti-Syrian parties that have the majority in government accuse Hezbollah of serving Syrian interests in their country. |
| 'Incapable government' | 'Incapable government' |
| Many supporters of Hezbollah and its allies, including the party headed by Mr Aoun, were brought to Beirut in buses for a demonstration that started at 1500 local time (1300 GMT). | Many supporters of Hezbollah and its allies, including the party headed by Mr Aoun, were brought to Beirut in buses for a demonstration that started at 1500 local time (1300 GMT). |
| Police estimated the crowd at 800,000 people, but Hezbollah said it was larger, said Associated Press news agency. | Police estimated the crowd at 800,000 people, but Hezbollah said it was larger, said Associated Press news agency. |
| Lebanese troops are guarding key buildings | Lebanese troops are guarding key buildings |
| Armoured vehicles and hundreds of troops have taken up positions to defend government buildings in the city, despite assurances from Sheikh Nasrallah that the protests would be peaceful. | Armoured vehicles and hundreds of troops have taken up positions to defend government buildings in the city, despite assurances from Sheikh Nasrallah that the protests would be peaceful. |
| According to BBC Beirut correspondent Kim Ghattas, Beirut feels like a city in a state of emergency. | According to BBC Beirut correspondent Kim Ghattas, Beirut feels like a city in a state of emergency. |
| Mr Siniora's government has vowed to stand firm against the protests - but the death or resignation of another two ministers will automatically topple it. | Mr Siniora's government has vowed to stand firm against the protests - but the death or resignation of another two ministers will automatically topple it. |
| Syrian troops | Syrian troops |
| Anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt told the BBC that Hezbollah was trying to block the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. | Anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt told the BBC that Hezbollah was trying to block the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. |
| Siniora warned any attempt to topple his government would fail | Siniora warned any attempt to topple his government would fail |
| "The question is: What do they want? They only want to avoid the truth that is the international tribunal. This is the answer." | "The question is: What do they want? They only want to avoid the truth that is the international tribunal. This is the answer." |
| The government came to office last year in the first election held after the withdrawal of Syrian troops originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war. | The government came to office last year in the first election held after the withdrawal of Syrian troops originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war. |
| Syria was forced to withdraw its military presence after massive street protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of Mr Hariri. | Syria was forced to withdraw its military presence after massive street protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of Mr Hariri. |
| A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing - but Syria denies it is involved. | A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing - but Syria denies it is involved. |
| The government in Beirut also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. | The government in Beirut also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. |
| Friday's protest had originally been scheduled for last week but was delayed after the assassination. | Friday's protest had originally been scheduled for last week but was delayed after the assassination. |