government, of resorting to such demonstrations after failing to hamper an international tribunal and a donors' conference for Lebanon.

"How can the Lebanese take that scene in front of the Justice Ministry seriously?" when some of the parties participating in the sit-in are known for "serving the tutelage Syrian regime, while others are still under interrogation on charges of involvement in activities linked to these crimes and assassinations," said a statement by the March 14 Follow-up committee.

"The Lebanese have recovered their freedom and they are determined to preserve it," added the statement.

Meanwhile, the Phalange party criticized protestors from the Syrian Social National Party for brandishing SSNP flags together with posters of slain Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel during Saturday's sit-in.

A statement released by the Phalange Party said such an act "triggers hatred and discontent among the Lebanese and makes the Phalangists wonder whether this is some kind of blackout of the truth."

Gemayel's family was also quick to denounce Saturday's sit-in as "shameful exploitation of the killing of Pierre Gemayel, martyr for Lebanese independence."

Gemayel's family accused the opposition and specifically SSNP of "trying to assassinate Pierre Gemayel twice".

The gathering near the Justice Palace on Saturday drew several hundred people and came as Hezbollah vowed to intensify the street campaign to topple the government.

"We are not going to leave the street and we are not going to stop the sit-ins. We are going to intensify them," Hezbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan said in a televised interview Saturday.

Opposition protest for justice is ironic

One local observer told Ya Libnan" How ironic of the opposition to call for justice when they are opposed to the International tribunal "

The purpose of the international tribunal is to bring to justice the killers of former Prime minister Rafik Hariri. The 5 Shiite ministers of Hezbollah and Amal resigned a day before the cabinet was to discuss the tribunal.

Syria has been opposed to the tribunal since many Syrian officials have been accused of involvement in the murder of Hariri. The March 14 alliance has accused the Pro- Syrian Hezbollah and Amal organizations of opposing the tribunal to protect Syria.

Picture: Slain Minister Pierre Gemayel with a poster that says : we will not forget

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan