Pro and anti-Assad rallies in Beirut were peaceful

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Beirut’s Martyrs Square on Sunday was once again the scene of two rival yet peaceful demonstrations supportive and critical of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The demonstrations were separated by barbed wire and a heavy military presence. Hundreds of people showed up and chanted slogans for and against the Syrian government, with a slightly higher proportion showing up for the anti-Assad rally.

Demonstrators from both sides came from areas throughout Lebanon to take part.

The anti-Assad demonstration was organized by Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmad Assir of Sidon. Most of the attendees were Salafists ( a convoy of 53 buses of anti-Assad supporters from southern coastal city of Sidon participated in the rally) . They raised the pre-Baath Syrian flag and chanted, “The people want the fall of the regime.”

Assir condemned the international community’s refusal to intervene in Syria to end its crisis.

“The developments in Syria have revealed the true colors of some sides that have long deceived us.” He said

“They want Assad to increase his crimes against our brothers,” he declared.

He called on the Arab world to act to save the Syrian people, condemning their ongoing inaction in this regard.

Assir also urged Muslim-Christian unity in the face of Zionism.

“We are giving our voice against what’s happening in Syria,” said Adham Bitar, a 25-year-old from Sidon who attended the rally.

Pro-Assad rally

The pro-Assad rally was organized by the Lebanese branch of the Baath party.

The pro-Assad rally, which took place on the edge of Martyrs’ Square in the direction of Saifi, was less organized according to local reports . There was no podium for speakers, but the head of the Baath party in Lebanon Fayez Shukr delivered several remarks criticizing Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt and comparing him to the late Israeli military leader and politician Moshe Dayan.

The participants in the pro Assad rally set on fire a portrait of Jumblatt ( with an eye patch) , who has voiced support for the Syrian revolt and called on Assad to step down.

Baath official Ibrahim Issa also addressed the rally and said “we, in Lebanon, are against the conspiracy targeting the region.”

“Our relation with Syria is brotherly and special and we won’t tolerate that Lebanon be a launching pad for aggression against Syria,” Issa said.

Main parties absent

The leadership of Lebanon’s main parties, including Future, Hezbollah and Amal announced that they would not be taking part in Sunday’s demonstrations.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, on Twitter, urged the that the demonstrators show restraint and remain peaceful.

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Comments

64 responses to “Pro and anti-Assad rallies in Beirut were peaceful”

  1. dabshaleem Avatar
    dabshaleem

    to manye salafites and wahabiees in once pleace

    1. dab you are the expert  at finding salifites, good nose mr. now go find some more 🙂

      1. dabshaleem Avatar
        dabshaleem

        i kowed yu no salafite mr

    2. dab you are the expert  at finding salifites, good nose mr. now go find some more 🙂

      1. dabshaleem Avatar
        dabshaleem

        i kowed yu no salafite mr

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    to manye salafites and wahabiees in once pleace

    1. dab you are the expert  at finding salifites, good nose mr. now go find some more 🙂

      1.  Avatar
        Anonymous

        i kowed yu no salafite mr

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    Anyone who supports what happened in Homs and Baba Amro should be told to quietly leave ….

    1. leobetapar Avatar
      leobetapar

      for?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        For Homs and Baba Amro, Leo … of course.
        I understand there’s a few empty houses there now …

        1. leobetapar Avatar
          leobetapar

          that’s finish Next stop Liberation of Riyad and Manama

  4.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Anyone who supports what happened in Homs and Baba Amro should be told to quietly leave ….

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        For Homs and Baba Amro, Leo … of course.
        I understand there’s a few empty houses there now …

        1. leobetapar Avatar
          leobetapar

          that’s finish Next stop Liberation of Riyad and Manama

  5. Hannibal Avatar
    Hannibal

    Weird… No Lebanese flags in these demonstrations. At least Hezballah in their rallies have Lebanese flags even if they are pretending. HE HE HE
    The ONLY people who have Lebanese flags and symbols in their rallies are the Phalangists and the LFs… They never raise any other flags. No Syrian, No Saudi, No Iranian, No American and certainly NOT French.
    OK now I will wait for the bashing… wait… wait… OK I am wearing my helmet now… Go ahead! Make my day.

    1. leobetapar Avatar
      leobetapar

      no bashing sir no bashing .I check my history books ,it’s appear that Phalangiste aLF were existing and even operates in the late millenium  since then no one ear of them again  A la nostalgie quand tu nous tiens

    2. $21082311 Avatar
      $21082311

       why is it that you insert that HA when they raise Lebanese flags they are pretending? Do LFs and Phalangists who you praise as the only raisers of Lebanese flags not consider Lebanese members of HA Lebanese? I’m sure they love Lebanon but you simply cannot say that others do not equally love their country. And I wonder which Lebanon do LFs define for themselves and for their ‘other’ country mates? Do they not share in the prejudice against others in the country? Are they not guilty of the same pursuit of personal interest and personal fortune? It is definitely not only about the flag, which I happen to be very proud of and I like my cedar tree to look whole, it is about deeds, proven dedication, and integrity. Look, the comments made by most on this site are as usual extra biased and only partially informed. But what else is new? This reflects exactly the atmosphere that exists back in the region which is unfortunately so retarded and fake and getting more rigid and hopeless. You know what the definition of insanity is. It is “doing things the same way and expecting different results”
      I appreciate your posting of the CNN opinion article on the Syrian article 3 of the newly voted amended constitution of Syria. I am one who disagrees with any per-condition of religious affiliation of a president, but Mr. pro LFs do we not have that same thing written in our Lebanese constitution for the President to be not only Christian but Maronite? OK he who has not sinned can throw stones…

      1.  Because up until about 10 years ago they only used Irans flag even during tv speeches  and if you go to south Beirut you see more pics of Komani and Irans flag than you see of Nasrallah himself and Lebanons flag. I dont support March 14 or March 8 so I dont live in a box. Speak the truth you sleep better at night.

        1. $21082311 Avatar
          $21082311

           Look I wish you read before you assume that I am defending one party over another. I know that HA is following Iran, that is a given, everybody knows that and they never denied it. I know that there are pics of this and that in South Beirut and South Lebanon all I was saying is no one party is purely Lebanon-loving, no one. All parties are sectarian, towns are isolated based on religious affiliations, the country is fragmented and it will not improve if we continue to be selective in what we report as being facts while merely personal biased opinions and emotional backgrounds are talking and repeating. The thing I objected to is the skepticism about intentions on one side while the other side is pure and angelic. I, like you, am not any March number, I said in my previous postings stop following persons and leaders it is the same civil war figures who are still in the picture, if not them their kids, it is sickening…

          1. I did read but I was drunk. Too much Arak with my lunch. Made it to Allay before the snow was too much and found a nice restaurant and got hammered. Posted the comment just before I passed out.

        2. Hannibal Avatar
          Hannibal

          Arak? ya keefir waylak… lol

      2. Hannibal Avatar
        Hannibal

        How about if I tell you that it is JUST an observation? I am not a Phalangist nor an LF member nor do I subscribe to my religion although I was born a Maronite. I am NOT an atheist but happen to believe that religions ALL religions are of this Earth and not heavenly. I do not believe in supernatural powers and that God abides by the same laws of physics we live in known and unknown seen and unseen. I always posted in here that I would LOVE to see one day a Durzi president of Lebanon because they are the absolute minority. I even think that a rotation of duties will be a fair formula to all religions. That is we vote for a list and the list rotates duties yearly. First year a Sunni President, a Shiite VP, a Maronite minister of defense, an Orthodox head of the army etc… etc… and the same winning list will rotate roles yearly. Simple but fair and powerful. Thoughts?

        1. $21082311 Avatar
          $21082311

          As long as they are qualified and fit for the job and have a convincing agenda that they present upfront,
          sure why not? Do you notice that no candidate whether it is for
          presidency or for parliament commits to an agenda, we never see it, they take us people
          for idiots. I agree with you on granting equal opportunities for all sects even though I wish that we didn’t have to even look at that as an issue, but that is the nature of our composition and that is fine because I am sure there are qualified people from all sects. And Sir, what your belief or religious background is does not matter to me. I myself was born Christian and I am full of questions about the imperfect science, the universe, God, everything, but never about the other person’s faith. If one worships the stone, it never makes any difference to me for when I agree or disagree with someone in a dialogue or when I judge character. God help us all in being the best we can be as human beings, we have a long way to go. The truth is we, Lebanese, we have lived hard lives, wars, regional influences, migration to foreign lands, discrimination. We carry loads of emotions but we have more in common than differences. We need to stick together because if I may say so, we are remarkable people…

    3.  how are you mr.president ?

  6. Weird… No Lebanese flags in these demonstrations. At least Hezballah in their rallies have Lebanese flags even if they are pretending. HE HE HE
    The ONLY people who have Lebanese flags and symbols in their rallies are the Phalangists and the LFs… They never raise any other flags. No Syrian, No Saudi, No Iranian, No American and certainly NOT French.
    OK now I will wait for the bashing… wait… wait… OK I am wearing my helmet now… Go ahead! Make my day.

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      no bashing sir no bashing .I check my history books ,it’s appear that Phalangiste aLF were existing and even operates in the late millenium  since then no one ear of them again  A la nostalgie quand tu nous tiens

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

       why is it that you insert that HA when they raise Lebanese flags they are pretending? Do LFs and Phalangists who you praise as the only raisers of Lebanese flags not consider Lebanese members of HA Lebanese? I’m sure they love Lebanon but you simply cannot say that others do not equally love their country. And I wonder which Lebanon do LFs define for themselves and for their ‘other’ country mates? Do they not share in the prejudice against others in the country? Are they not guilty of the same pursuit of personal interest and personal fortune? It is definitely not only about the flag, which I happen to be very proud of and I like my cedar tree to look whole, it is about deeds, proven dedication, and integrity. Look, the comments made by most on this site are as usual extra biased and only partially informed. But what else is new? This reflects exactly the atmosphere that exists back in the region which is unfortunately so retarded and fake and getting more rigid and hopeless. You know what the definition of insanity is. It is “doing things the same way and expecting different results”
      I appreciate your posting of the CNN opinion article on the Syrian article 3 of the newly voted amended constitution of Syria. I am one who disagrees with any per-condition of religious affiliation of a president, but Mr. pro LFs do we not have that same thing written in our Lebanese constitution for the President to be not only Christian but Maronite? OK he who has not sinned can throw stones…

      1. Bad Ass Avatar

         Because up until about 10 years ago they only used Irans flag even during tv speeches  and if you go to south Beirut you see more pics of Komani and Irans flag than you see of Nasrallah himself and Lebanons flag. I dont support March 14 or March 8 so I dont live in a box. Speak the truth you sleep better at night.

        1.  Avatar
          Anonymous

           Look I wish you read before you assume that I am defending one party over another. I know that HA is following Iran, that is a given, everybody knows that and they never denied it. I know that there are pics of this and that in South Beirut and South Lebanon all I was saying is no one party is purely Lebanon-loving, no one. All parties are sectarian, towns are isolated based on religious affiliations, the country is fragmented and it will not improve if we continue to be selective in what we report as being facts while merely personal biased opinions and emotional backgrounds are talking and repeating. The thing I objected to is the skepticism about intentions on one side while the other side is pure and angelic. I, like you, am not any March number, I said in my previous postings stop following persons and leaders it is the same civil war figures who are still in the picture, if not them their kids, it is sickening…

          1. Bad Ass Avatar

            I did read but I was drunk. Too much Arak with my lunch. Made it to Allay before the snow was too much and found a nice restaurant and got hammered. Posted the comment just before I passed out.

        2. Arak? ya keefir waylak… lol

          1. Bad Ass Avatar

            yu salafit mr zionieeest! me no kafir mr salafit you wahabi luvr wa poonani chazir wahabi god luv me yu kafeer salafit wa wahabi

        3. guss043 Avatar

           Agree with you , as soon you hit the south there is no flag other than the yellow one, the truth is until recently the Sunni never accepted Lebanon or the flag same as ,look at the Arab in general they are tribal and nation builders , since the west left they couldnt build a democratic country, Name one country in the middle east which you can criticize the president openel as regular citizen on TV without fear ,

          1. I agree. Arabs in general have been sheep. Join me on facebook. I have about 50,000 followers. we talk about his sort of stuff all the time and why the middle east is how it is.

      2. How about if I tell you that it is JUST an observation? I am not a Phalangist nor an LF member nor do I subscribe to my religion although I was born a Maronite. I am NOT an atheist but happen to believe that religions ALL religions are of this Earth and not heavenly. I do not believe in supernatural powers and that God abides by the same laws of physics we live in known and unknown seen and unseen. I always posted in here that I would LOVE to see one day a Durzi president of Lebanon because they are the absolute minority. I even think that a rotation of duties will be a fair formula to all religions. That is we vote for a list and the list rotates duties yearly. First year a Sunni President, a Shiite VP, a Maronite minister of defense, an Orthodox head of the army etc… etc… and the same winning list will rotate roles yearly. Simple but fair and powerful. Thoughts?

        1.  Avatar
          Anonymous

          As long as they are qualified and fit for the job and have a convincing agenda that they present upfront,
          sure why not? Do you notice that no candidate whether it is for
          presidency or for parliament commits to an agenda, we never see it, they take us people
          for idiots. I agree with you on granting equal opportunities for all sects even though I wish that we didn’t have to even look at that as an issue, but that is the nature of our composition and that is fine because I am sure there are qualified people from all sects. And Sir, what your belief or religious background is does not matter to me. I myself was born Christian and I am full of questions about the imperfect science, the universe, God, everything, but never about the other person’s faith. If one worships the stone, it never makes any difference to me for when I agree or disagree with someone in a dialogue or when I judge character. God help us all in being the best we can be as human beings, we have a long way to go. The truth is we, Lebanese, we have lived hard lives, wars, regional influences, migration to foreign lands, discrimination. We carry loads of emotions but we have more in common than differences. We need to stick together because if I may say so, we are remarkable people…

      3. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        QUALIFICATIONS in the practical sense seems to be the LEAST of the expectations of the people doing the voting. Which says something about education … 

    3. Bad Ass Avatar

       how are you mr.president ?

      1. Pretty good… As long as Dab is posting here I am entertained 😉
        How are things at your end Mr. VP?

        1. Bad Ass Avatar

          Im good but remember Please Im PM since Im Sunni.
          My wife is Maronite so maybe my son can be president once your term is up. His is only 4 now but he can learn from me….

        2. @thebadass:disqus Hmmmmmm your son is half Maronite? I don’t know man we need to have a vote to see if he can be sworn in. WOW that’s complicated… Let me think about this one… Couldn’t you make it easy on us and marry a Sunni? Look what you’ve done now… LOL

  7. guss043 Avatar

    Here we need to think good, I don;t think the Future movement is innocent from this manifestation, just they didnt show up, the sunni have to be careful with supporting this dark age organization named salafist as it is way more dangerous than Hezbollah no comparison.The salafist are equivalent to Nazis , they have names for the Christians, for the Shiites and for Druze and even for the regular Sunnis (read Amin Kamourie editorial in Makalat in Annahar newspaper ), they are worst that the Taliban , The Future movement is supporting them quietly and is behind them as they want a fanatic movement to face Hezbollah. Already many Egyptians are living in fears of them, just watched a program who hosted artist and Egyptian actors that are fearing that Egypt will become another Afghanistan if the Salafist manage to rule.
    We have to remember that Seniora government licensed some Sunni fanatic organizations that are banned in the moslem world . Slafist are backed by the gulf A…holes in the gulf penisula to face Iran.
    The Christians and especially the Lebanese Forces shouldnt fall to Asir treacherous speech asking Christians to protect them, this is a foxy speech, as we know well what the Salafist name the Christians ( already in Egypt they requested that no Copt should be allowed in government ) . Be aware of the evil that have 2 faces , the Sunni are using the Christians as they did use the PLO in 1975 , Keada and salafist 2 faces for the same coin and Future movement can’t be trusted fully

  8. guss043 Avatar

    Here we need to think good, I don;t think the Future movement is innocent from this manifestation, just they didnt show up, the sunni have to be careful with supporting this dark age organization named salafist as it is way more dangerous than Hezbollah no comparison.The salafist are equivalent to Nazis , they have names for the Christians, for the hiites and for Druze and even for the regular sunnis , they are worst that the Taliban , The Future TV could be secretly behind them as they want a fanatic movement to face Hezbollah. Already many Egyptians are living in fears of them, just watched a program who hosted artist and Egyptian actors that are fearing that Egypt will become another Afghanistan if the Salafist manage to rule.
    We have to remember that Seniora government licensed some Sunni fanatic organizations that are banned in the moslem world . Slafist are backed by the gulf A…holes in the gulf penisula to face Iran.
    The Christians and especially the Lebanese Forces shouldnt fall to Asir treacherous speech asking Christians to protect them, this is a foxy speech, as we know well what the Salafist name the Christians ( already in Egypt they requested that no Copt should be allowed in government ) . Be aware of the evil that have 2 faces , the Sunni are using the Christians as they did use the PLO in 1975 , Keada and salafist 2 faces for the same coin and Future movement can’t be trusted fully

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