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| Tension high for Hariri protest | Tension high for Hariri protest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Tension is high in Lebanon as crowds gather for a rally to commemorate the second anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. | Tension is high in Lebanon as crowds gather for a rally to commemorate the second anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. |
| Thousands of pro-government supporters, who accuse Syria of involvement in Mr Hariri's death, are converging on Martyrs' Square in central Beirut. | Thousands of pro-government supporters, who accuse Syria of involvement in Mr Hariri's death, are converging on Martyrs' Square in central Beirut. |
| A fence has been built to separate them from opposition activists, and troops backed by tanks are out in force. | A fence has been built to separate them from opposition activists, and troops backed by tanks are out in force. |
| The rally comes a day after bombings near Beirut killed three people. | The rally comes a day after bombings near Beirut killed three people. |
| Eighteen others were injured in the twin bus blasts near Bikfaya, a mainly Christian town in the hills north of Beirut. | Eighteen others were injured in the twin bus blasts near Bikfaya, a mainly Christian town in the hills north of Beirut. |
| Every time the Lebanese seem close to an agreement, enemies of Lebanon commit another crime Emile LahoudLebanese president Pictures: Lebanon bombings | Every time the Lebanese seem close to an agreement, enemies of Lebanon commit another crime Emile LahoudLebanese president Pictures: Lebanon bombings |
| 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". | 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". |
| Supporters said the blasts were designed to scare people away from Wednesday's commemoration rally. Organisers vowed it would go ahead. | Supporters said the blasts were designed to scare people away from Wednesday's commemoration rally. Organisers vowed it would go ahead. |
| UN accord | UN accord |
| President Emile Lahoud, a staunch ally of Syria, also condemned the attacks, saying they undermined attempts at compromise. | President Emile Lahoud, a staunch ally of Syria, also condemned the 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. |
| Tuesday's bus blasts claimed three lives near BikfayaPolitical and sectarian tensions have been running high in Lebanon, erupting in clashes in January between supporters and opponents of the government. | Tuesday's bus blasts claimed three lives near BikfayaPolitical 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. | 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. | 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. |
| A UN probe has implicated top Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the assassination. | A 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. | 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. |
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