Thousands Gather in Beirut to Commemorate Hariri Death

Government supporters today gathered in central Beirut on the second anniversary of the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

The government deployed hundreds of troops to control the crowd of thousands in a security clampdown a day after two bombs killed three people and injured 20 in a Christian area to the north of the capital.

Soldiers in full combat gear and armoured cars were stationed in and around Martyrs' Square amid fears of clashes between flag-waving government supporters commemorating Hariri's death and people continuing a daily sit-in to demand the government's resignation.

The memorial rally went ahead despite the anxiety caused by yesterday's attacks on two buses.

While Lebanon has been plagued by bombings in the past two years, yesterday's explosions were the first that appeared intended to inflict maximum casualties among civilians of no political affiliation.

The explosions heightened tensions as the country marked the assassination of Mr Hariri - credited with rebuilding Lebanon after the 1975-90 civil war - in 2005.

The former prime minister and 22 others were killed in a huge explosion as his motorcade passed through central Beirut.

Outrage over the assassination forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon two months later, ending a 29-year presence.

A UN investigation on the assassination, blamed by many government supporters on Syria, is ongoing.

Syria has denied any role in his death and attacks over the past two years.

Saad al-Hariri, the former prime minister's son, and his coalition allies organised the memorial rally to demonstrate support for the government as it resists a campaign by the Hizbullah-led opposition to topple it.

The opposition, which has held demonstrations for months, is demanding more representation in the coalition cabinet so it can have a veto on decision-making.

The prime minister, Fuad Saniora Saniora, has rejected the demands, and the parliamentary faction led by Saad Hariri and other pro-government groups has accused Hizbullah of doing Syria's bidding.

Last month, a strike called by the opposition turned violent.

A few days later, an argument among students on a university campus led to rioting between government and opposition supporters, resulting in the deaths of eight people.