They marked the second anniversary of the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister.

But while the Lebanese flags - red and white with a green cedar tree - flew resplendently, there was little sense of national unity here.

The rally only served to highlight the widening divisions in Lebanese society.

The tens of thousands of pro-government supporters who poured into the city center passed through line after line of soldiers and police.

They were blockaded off from anti-government supporters, who set up a camp in the city center over two months ago, by a three-meter (10 foot) high fence, razor wire, hundreds of soldiers, armoured personnel carriers, and fire engines mounted with water cannons.

Ever since the assassination of Hariri this small country has been in a state of political crisis.

Pro-government supporters accuse Syria of being involved in his death, a charge that Syria and anti-government supporters deny. The tensions have sometimes turned into bloody confrontation.

Hostile message

Protesters attending the anniversary said that a deadly bomb attack on Tuesday in a staunch anti-Syrian area were planted by anti-government supporters designed to intimidate today's rally-goers.

"They wanted us to stay away," said Assad Jali, 60, retired, who travelled by mini-bus for 100km (65 miles) to attend the event.

"Yesterday was a message for us to stay away but they didn't succeed."

Like most of the protesters, Mr Jali demanded that an international tribunal into the killing of Rafik Hariri begins its work in Lebanon, which until now, has been stalled.

Mr Jali also said that he wanted an end to what he sees as Syrian and Iranian meddling in Lebanese affairs.

"I just want Lebanon to be independent," he said. "We need to be one country and free from influences that are not in our interest."

As the morning drew on the crowds swelled. Some supporters wore red baseball caps commemorating the slain politician, reading "We really miss you."

Others carried blue balloons, the color of the anti-Syrian faction led by Mr Hariri's son Saad.

Different worlds

While Martyrs' Square was packed, the camp of anti-government supporters, surrounded by barricades to prevent clashes, was largely deserted.

A few men huddled around a TV set to watch the scenes unfolding just a few meters away from them.

A 23-year-old who would only give his name as Ali said that while he respected Rafik Hariri he loathed the current policies of the government.

"They are pro-French and pro-American," he said, swathed in the yellow Hezbollah flag.

Back across the barricade - and in a different political word - Walid Ghraizi, 49, a school director, said Rafik Hariri inspired him to return to Lebanon after the horrors of the civil war.

"I came back because of Rafik Hariri," said Mr Ghraizi. "He believed in peace, he believed in democracy, but most importantly he believed in Lebanon.

"He was not interested if someone was Sunni, Shia, Druze or Christian, he only saw people as Lebanese. Rafik Hariri said that no-one was bigger than Lebanon."

"But Rafik Hariri was bigger than Lebanon."

Photo Gallery of Hariri's Second Anniversary

Video coverage of the massive gathering

Source: BBC