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Thousands flock to Hariri protest Thousands flock to Hariri protest
(about 2 hours later)
Tens of thousands of Lebanese have taken part in a rally in Beirut marking the second anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A mass rally in Beirut to mark the second anniversary of the killing of ex-Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri has passed off mainly peacefully.
The pro-government supporters, who accuse Syria of involvement in Mr Hariri's death, converged on Martyrs' Square in the city centre. There had been fears of clashes between pro-government supporters, who accuse Syria of involvement in the killing, and pro-Syrian opposition activists.
A fence was built to separate them from opposition activists, but the rally passed off without major skirmishes. Tension has been high since clashes between the sides erupted last month.
It came a day after bombings near Beirut killed three people. The crisis stems back to November when six pro-Syrian ministers quit over a UN tribunal to try Hariri murder suspects.
Eighteen others were injured in the twin bus blasts near Bikfaya, a mainly Christian town in the hills north of Beirut. 'Culture and education'
The government majority coalition behind Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has already accused Syria of being behind the bus attacks, holding it "fully responsible for this despicable crime". Tens of thousands of Lebanese converged on Martyrs' Square in Beirut's city centre where Hariri is buried.
Every time the Lebanese seem close to an agreement, enemies of Lebanon commit another crime Emile LahoudLebanese president class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5571&start=0&edition=2&ttl=20070213104927">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6361127.stm">Demonstation in pictures href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm', '1171463489', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Views from Hariri rally in Beirut href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm', '1171463489', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
Supporters said the blasts were designed to scare people away from Wednesday's commemoration rally. Organisers vowed it would go ahead. They waved flags and banners and cheered loudly when their leaders vowed that they would never submit to what they believed was a campaign of violence orchestrated by Syria.
Many of those attending carried Lebanese flags or blue balloons, the colour of the anti-Syrian faction led by Mr Hariri and now by his son Saad. Others wore red caps commemorating the slain politician, reading "We really miss you." "We are here to extend our hand to all Lebanese for dialogue and national unity," Hariri's son, Saad, said.
One woman attending the rally told the BBC why she had decided to attend: "We're here because of the martyr prime minister, because we love him and want to follow his path," she said. Many of those attending carried Lebanese flags or blue balloons, the colour of the anti-Syrian faction led by Hariri and now by his son.
"We want culture and education not arms and streets [barricaded with] tyres, for sure. We want to learn and reach our goals and lead a normal life like everyone else. Others wore red caps commemorating the murdered politician, reading "We really miss you."
Avoiding violence One woman attending the rally told the BBC: "We're here because of the martyr prime minister, because we love him and want to follow his path," she said.
"We want culture and education not arms and streets [barricaded with] tyres, for sure. We want to learn and reach our goals and lead a normal life like everyone else."
Bus bombings
The BBC's Jim Muir, at the rally, said that just a stone's throw away Hezbollah and its allies in the Syrian-backed opposition could hear all the commotion but did not react.
[Hezbollah's] interest in Tuesday's [bombings] is to plant fear in the Lebanese people. But we are here to awaken their conscience Jamila Zehayri,rally participant Send us your comments Demonstration in pictures
Our correspondent says it seemed people were keen to avoid any kind of confrontation.
Razor-wire fences, tanks and thousands of security forces made sure the two sides stayed apart.
Tension had risen after a double bus bombing on Tuesday that killed three people and injured 18 near Bikfaya, a mainly Christian town in the hills north of Beirut.
The government majority coalition behind Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused Syria of being behind the bus attacks, holding it "fully responsible for this despicable crime".
His supporters said the blasts were designed to scare people away from Wednesday's rally.
One woman who attended the rally, Jamila Zehayri, said: "[Hezbollah's] interest in Tuesday's incident is to plant fear in the Lebanese people. But we are here to awaken their conscience."
President Emile Lahoud, a staunch ally of Syria, also condemned the bomb attacks, saying they undermined attempts at compromise.President Emile Lahoud, a staunch ally of Syria, also condemned the bomb attacks, saying they undermined attempts at compromise.
"Every time the Lebanese seem close to an agreement, enemies of Lebanon commit another crime," he said."Every time the Lebanese seem close to an agreement, enemies of Lebanon commit another crime," he said.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm', '1171463489', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Views from Hariri rally in Beirut href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/middle_east_views_from_hariri_rally_in_beirut/html/1.stm', '1171463489', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures The UN tribunal remains a source of major sectarian and political tension.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says that the situation is very volatile following Tuesday's bombing, but that thousands of police are on hand in Martyrs' Square and the surrounding streets to ensure that this rally does not descend into violence. A UN probe implicated top Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the assassination.
A fence of razor wire was erected to stop pro-government supporters from mingling with the Hezbollah-backed activists who have been besieging the prime minister's office since December.
Our correspondent walked amongst the tents of the Hezbollah protesters this morning and said that it seemed people there were also keen to avoid any kind of confrontation.
UN accord
Political and sectarian tensions have been running high in Lebanon, erupting in clashes in January between supporters and opponents of the government.
The crisis stems back to November when six pro-Syrian ministers resigned primarily over the endorsement by the Cabinet of a UN tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri bombing.
Syria denied any involvement in the car bomb attack which killed Mr Hariri but outrage at the time forced Damascus to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon.
Tuesday's bus blasts claimed three lives near BikfayaA UN probe has implicated top Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the assassination.
Last week the UN signed an accord that would create an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing.Last week the UN signed an accord that would create an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing.
However, that must be ratified in the deeply divided Lebanese parliament.However, that must be ratified in the deeply divided Lebanese parliament.
Syrian ally Hezbollah wants to capitalise on what it regards as its victory against Israel in last summer's conflict and take part in a government in which it would hold the power of veto. Syria denied any involvement in the car bomb attack that killed Mr Hariri.
Outrage at the time forced Damascus to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon.