LEBANON: Thousands of flag-waving Lebanese took to Beirut's streets shouting "Syria out" yesterday, falling silent for one minute at the exact time former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri was assassinated a week ago.
"We're here to tell Syria from all Lebanese that we can live without them ... If they go, we will leave the streets," said a protester who gave his name as Hassan.
Anti-Syrian sentiment has risen sharply in Lebanon since a massive bomb killed Hariri and 15 other people on February 14th. Many opposition figures and protesters have pointed the finger at Syria, which has denied any involvement.
Quiet fell over the city for one minute at 12.55 p.m., exactly one week after a huge bomb ripped through Hariri's motorcade. Beirutis stopped their cars and radio and television stations broadcast the national anthem.
Doctors and nurses at Beirut's American University Hospital, where most of the dead and wounded were treated, gathered in a hall to show their respect.
Student leaders were applauded when they told those at the rally, which brought together several of Lebanon's diverse religions, to "pray in their own way".
"This is really new, it's surprising to find Muslims, Christians and Druze together. This is the first time," a student, Mireille, said.
"Unity" was a word on the lips of many of those who gathered beneath the Phoenicia Hotel's boarded-up windows, blown out by last week's blast in an exclusive part of Beirut's seafront.
Hariri's killing recalled the darkest days of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.
"No to sectarianism," read one banner, the Arabic word for "no" drawn with an Islamic crescent and a Christian cross. Another group held up olive branches.
A number of mainly Christian and Druze opposition figures who had called for an "independence uprising" against what they said was Syria's interference in Lebanon led the protest.
"This is a revolution for the Lebanese, we are taking back our freedom," said Amer Sinno, a student.
Almost all the 15,000 marchers wore red-and-white scarves, a new opposition symbol that brought to mind the orange scarves worn during Ukraine's "orange revolution".
Long-time opponents of Syria's grip on its tiny neighbour - Syria has about 14,000 troops and a pervasive intelligence presence in Lebanon - have seized on the anger at Hariri's brutal end to escalate their protests.