his grave-site and opposition protesters camped nearby.
Supporters of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government have called for a massive rally on Wednesday at Hariri's grave — a stone's throw from where Hezbollah-led opposition protesters have been camping out in tents since Dec. 1, in a campaign to topple the U.S.-backed leader.

Both sides have said they want to ensure the anniversary passes peacefully. But the country has already seen how street gatherings can spiral out of control: Opposition protests in January turned into several days of clashes with government backers that killed eight people and injured dozens.

Those clashes raised fears that the months-long power struggle between Siniora's government and the opposition, led by the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah, could push Lebanon into civil war.

Pro-government groups want the protesters evicted — or at least have them stay out of the way — while they mark two years since Hariri 's assassination.

The protesters have refused to go.

Hariri was killed along with 22 other people in a massive suicide truck bombing in central Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005.

Many Lebanese, mainly the anti-Syrian factions, have blamed Syria for the assassination. Syria, which then had its army controlling Lebanon, has repeatedly denied involvement in the slaying that is still being investigated by a U.N. commission.

At last year's anniversary, tens of thousands of government supporters and the anti-Syrian coalition turned out in a strong show of force against Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies.

This year, the anniversary also is expected to attract throngs of government supporters — and counter the weeks of opposition protests and sit-in.

The parliament majority, led by Hariri 's son Saad, has called on the Lebanese "who loved Rafik Hariri to commemorate the second anniversary with a massive turnout" around the slain leader's gravesite on Martyrs' Square in central Beirut.

The pro-government groups insist on the gravesite for the rally, in a symbolic tribute to the politician who devoted much of his 10 years as prime minister to rebuilding Lebanon — and downtown Beirut in particular — from the destruction of the 1975-90 civil war.

But the opposition tents stretch from near Hariri 's gravesite to the upper part of the Martyrs' Square and the Riad Solh Square further away. The gravesite and the lower part of the square have been sealed off by troops and razor wire to prevent attacks on the tomb.

The army says it will not allow a repetition of the January rioting. Defense Minister Elias Murr has said the opposition tents would not be evicted but also said the army will not permit any trouble.

With the government committed to the anniversary and the opposition determined to continue the sit-ins, it's unclear what will happen when the two come in proximity of each other.

Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah's 11-member parliamentary bloc, has warned government supporters and anti-Syrian groups against demonstrating near the opposition tents, saying that such a move could provoke clashes.

The anti-Syrian factions can demonstrate on other streets, he said. "But demonstrations ... near the current sit-ins in central Beirut will inflame strife and infighting."

Another senior Hezbollah official, deputy political bureau head Mahmoud Komati, said the opposition sit-in does not conflict with the commemoration gathering and will continue.

The pro-government coalition, which called for the demonstration, has said that the anniversary will be "a day of national unity, not divisions; a day for democracy, not sedition. Let Feb. 14 be a day for a unified Lebanon."

Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh vowed the demonstration would go ahead no matter what.

"No one, no tent or a statement by some maniacs can prevent us from commemorating the anniversary," he said recently.

The commemorators will try to avoid provoking the other side, Hamadeh said, and urged the opposition protesters to "stay in their tents."

But other pro-government politicians want the opposition protesters out.

Samir Geagea, a senior anti-Syrian politician, urged security forces to dismantle the opposition tents for the Hariri anniversary.

Pro-Hariri lawmaker Walid Eido has claimed the opposition protesters in Beirut have brought "arms, clubs and chains" into their camps "probably to foment trouble."

Mindful of the potential for violence and seeking to ease the tension building around the anniversary, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a major opposition leader, said the anniversary should be a unifying occasion, not an additional element of division.

Hariri's day "is for all Lebanese, not a specific sect or political faction."

Picture: A giant portrait of Lebanon's late prime minister Rafik Hariri is seen beside a mosque named after him in Beirut, Lebanon

Sources: AP