The numbers of protesters varies widely but most center around a few hundred thousands. But The Times (UK) has some interesting information on what's really going on here.
Streams of buses, pick-up trucks and cars jammed main roads into the capital, black-clad Hezbollah militants joined tens of thousands crowded into the central Riad Solh Square in the heart of Beirut, chanting "Beirut is free, America out".
Estimates of the crowd ranged up to half a million - one in eight of Lebanon's population - although Lebanese television reported that Syria was bussing in supporters to boost the numbers. The size of the rally highlighted the continuing divisions in Lebanon 15 years after the end of its long civil war.
How many of these people are Lebanese and how many are Syrian?
UPDATE
A Lebanese blogger has more on this contrived rally.
He told me that his father was calling him every few minutes demanding that he close for his own personal safety, because Hizbullah members had been sweeping through all the Shi'a-dominated neighborhoods, forcing business owners to close up and go down to the demonstrations.
And their customers I would imagine.
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Tuesday, March 08, 2005
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