Lebanese
students and activists defied government
warnings today and demonstrated in their
thousands against Syria’s domination of
their country.
Large numbers of security forces watched,
but did not intervene, as about 3,000
students from several universities and
right-wing Christian activists converged in
Beirut shouting “Syrians out!”
A smaller group of protesters, followers of
Druse leader Walid Jumblatt, chanted the
national anthem near the prime minister’s
office and held placards reading: “No to
hegemony” and “Freedom, Sovereignty,
Independence”.
The
government had earlier cordoned off the
office of Prime Minister Omar Karami with
tank traps and other obstacles. It deployed
about 1,000 security forces outside the
universities and at major intersections
across the city in anticipation of the
protests.
While the government had declared that
street protests would be illegal, the police
and troops seemed to heed instructions of
maximum restraint from Interior Minister
Suleiman Franjieh.
Hundreds of security forces allowed about
1,000 students from the Sagesse University
to march to the national museum.
The
protests were called by Student opposition
leaders, prominent members of the
opposition had warned the government against
using force to stop the protests, saying the
world is watching. Previous protests against
Syria have ended in violent clashes in the
streets.
Syria’s army crossed into Lebanon in 1976 in
the second year of the civil war. By the end
of the conflict in 1990, Syria had emerged
as the main power broker in the country.
Critics accuse Syria of dominating the
country’s politics, but the pro-Syrian
government says Syria’s 14,000 troops are
required to ensure stability.
Lebanese
students and activists defied government
warnings today and demonstrated in their
thousands against Syria’s domination of
their country. 
The
government had earlier cordoned off the
office of Prime Minister Omar Karami with
tank traps and other obstacles. It deployed
about 1,000 security forces outside the
universities and at major intersections
across the city in anticipation of the
protests. 
The
protests were called by Student opposition
leaders, prominent members of the
opposition had warned the government against
using force to stop the protests, saying the
world is watching. Previous protests against
Syria have ended in violent clashes in the
streets.