"We are hostages to Iran, Syria and Israel " read a large banner.

Tripoli, 80 kilometers north of Beirut, is the northern capital of Lebanon and is the Sunni stronghold..

Hariri, the son of former prime minister Rafik Hariri who was assassinated by a huge blast targeting his motorcade in Beirut on February 2005, reminded sympathizers that Lahoud's mandate in office was extended for three years by an illegal constitutional amendment under Syrian pressure in 2004.

Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April 2005, more than a month after the older Hariri assassination, for which it is blamed by supporters of the Siniora government.

Spiritual leaders condemn the Hezbollah protests

Cardinal Sfeir , the highest Christian spiritual authority warned that “wars start with words”. He cautioned that the insults and aggressive statements against government individuals are bad news for Lebanon as they spell evil for the future of this country.
Sfeir warned that no one one is thinking about the Lebanese people, whose aim is to survive with their families in harmony and away from violence. But unfortunately these continued protests are making it impossible to survive, since the economy as a result of these protests is in despair.

Sfeir prayed for an end to this turmoil

Last Friday, Lebanon’s Mufti, the highest Sunni spiritual authority in Lebanon also criticized the Hezbollah protests. He told worshippers that demands by the Hezbollah-led alliance would not be met.

"Bringing down Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the government in the street is a red line, which we will never allow to go beyond " Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said

A General view of Lebanese pro-government protesters gather waving Lebanse flags, during a demonstration to show their support to the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, in Tripoli, north Lebanon, Sunday Dec. 10,

Source: Naharnet, Ya Libnan