After the violence that has met previous demonstrations of solidarity with the people of Syria, held in Beirut, the largest such gathering - held tonight in Martyrs' Square - went off pretty much without a hitch. I'd guess around 500 Lebanese and Syrians filled the monument area, holding candles and banners. Around 25 pro-Assad demonstrators turned up at the end and a short shouting match ensued between roughly the same number of anti-Assad demonstrators, with a strong police presence between the two. The 'anti' crowd were roughly hustled back into the middle of the monument area by ISF troops but regained their 'ground' on the outer slopes of the monument to hurl a few more chants before departing.
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| A demonstrator takes a quiet moment amid the anti-Assad protest in Beirut's Martyrs' Square |
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| A small group of pro-Assad demonstrators picket the protest |
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| ISF troops push anti-Assad demonstrators away from the pro-Assad picket in a bid to defuse the standoff |
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