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| Beirut rally attracts huge crowd | Beirut rally attracts huge crowd |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are taking part in the latest protest to press the government to cede more power to the opposition or step down. | Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are taking part in the latest protest to press the government to cede more power to the opposition or step down. |
| Led by Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies, the rally is possibly the largest demonstration Beirut has seen. | Led by Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies, the rally is possibly the largest demonstration Beirut has seen. |
| Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, urged the prime minister to accept a national unity government or face further action. | |
| PM Fouad Siniora has vowed to resist what he has called an attempted coup. | |
| Demonstrators have been waving the red, green and white flag of Lebanon, but others are also waving the yellow flag of Hezbollah emblazoned with a fist holding up an AK-47. | |
| Fully-veiled Shia women, Christian students wearing t-shirts and fathers hoisting children on their shoulders were among crowds who cheered a series of opposition speakers urging the government's resignation, the AFP news agency reported. | Fully-veiled Shia women, Christian students wearing t-shirts and fathers hoisting children on their shoulders were among crowds who cheered a series of opposition speakers urging the government's resignation, the AFP news agency reported. |
| We will stay for days, weeks or months. Whatever it takes to bring down the government Nader Hafez Protester In pictures: Mass rally | We will stay for days, weeks or months. Whatever it takes to bring down the government Nader Hafez Protester In pictures: Mass rally |
| Mr Aoun, in a video link speech that appeared on giant screens, told the crowd that the time of Mr Siniora's Western-backed government was over. | |
| He said the opposition was committed to "peaceful means, but even other means are legitimate". | |
| Lebanese army combat troops sealed off major roads around the two squares where the rally is taking place. | Lebanese army combat troops sealed off major roads around the two squares where the rally is taking place. |
| However there is also a heavy presence of Hezbollah security agents wearing white caps and carrying walkie-talkies, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut. | However there is also a heavy presence of Hezbollah security agents wearing white caps and carrying walkie-talkies, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut. |
| The Hezbollah-led protests began on 1 December. | The Hezbollah-led protests began on 1 December. |
| "We will stay for days, weeks or months. Whatever it takes to bring down the government," one protester, Nader Hafez, told Reuters news agency. | "We will stay for days, weeks or months. Whatever it takes to bring down the government," one protester, Nader Hafez, told Reuters news agency. |
| Government veto | Government veto |
| The opposition accuses the government of being weak and corrupt, and says it no longer represents the Lebanese people after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month. | The opposition accuses the government of being weak and corrupt, and says it no longer represents the Lebanese people after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month. |
| Under the constitution, the death or resignation of another two ministers would automatically bring it down. | Under the constitution, the death or resignation of another two ministers would automatically bring it down. |
| Opposition supporters have camped out in Beirut since 1 DecemberHezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions. | Opposition supporters have camped out in Beirut since 1 DecemberHezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions. |
| The current cabinet 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 current cabinet 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 former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. | Syria was forced to withdraw its military presence after massive street protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. |
| A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing, although Syria has denied any involvement. | A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing, although Syria has denied any involvement. |
| The government in Beirut has also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. | The government in Beirut has also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. |
| Have Your Say: Are you attending Beirut rally? | Have Your Say: Are you attending Beirut rally? |