Beirut Rival Pro- and Anti-Assad Demos Held without Incident

Amid strict security measures and a heavy deployment of troops, Beirut’s Martyrs Square on Sunday was once again the scene of two rival yet peaceful demos supportive and critical of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Speaking at the anti-Assad rally, Salafist cleric Ahmed al-Asir, Imam of Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah mosque, condemned the international community’s refusal to intervene in Syria to end its crisis.

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

He made his statements before a demonstration in support of the Syrian revolution that was held in downtown Beirut.

He reiterated Syrian President Bashar Assad’s remarks when he said that the world is conspiring against Syria, noting however that this conspiracy is directed against the Syrian people.

Asir noted that whenever the “murders against the Syrians increase, the world renews its refusal to intervene to end the unrest.”

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

“The Islamic Ummah is still alive and well,” he stressed.

“If the oppressors believe that they have destroyed our dignity, then they should think again,” he continued.

“We are not relying on the United Nations to save the Syrian people, but we are relying on God and all free Muslims and non-Muslims,” he stated.

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

Furthermore, Asir said that the Aqsa mosque in the Palestinian territories will also be liberated “once we are liberated from ourselves and oppressors.”

“We not only seek to liberate the Aqsa mosque, but the Church of Nativity as well,” he stated.

Addressing Christians in Lebanon, he remarked: “You can protect Muslims in the regions by remaining in the Middle East because Israel is seeking to kick you out of the area.”

The anti-Assad demonstration was held simultaneously with another supportive of the Syrian regime and organized by the Baath party.

Tensions were high in downtown Beirut because of fears that the rival rallies could spiral into unrest.

The demonstrations took place however without incident.

Baath official Ibrahim Issa delivered a speech during the rally, stressing that “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.

Baath partisans waved the flags of Russia and China to extend gratitude for the two world powers’ vetoing of U.N. resolutions condemning the Syrian regime over its bloody crackdown on dissent.

They also burned a portrait of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, who has voice support for the Syrian revolt and called on Assad to step down.

Some pro-Baath demonstrators also shouted slogans against Qatar over its anti-regime stances.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati praised in a statement the “peaceful demonstrations,” saying the Lebanese people have the right to stage rallies.

He also praised the army and security forces for the measures they took to prevent any possible unrest.

The premier had held contacts with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel on his efforts to keep the peace in downtown Beirut.

The minister was present at the scene to oversee the security measures in the area.

Various parties from the rival March 8 and 14 political camps had announced that they will not participate in the demonstrations.

The Mustaqbal movement had announced in a statement on Saturday: “The call for demonstration at this time does not serve the Syrian revolution.”

“The movement has nothing to do with this activity,” it added.

The daily Ad Diyar meanwhile reported on Sunday that Hizbullah and the AMAL parties had also announced that they will not take part in the demonstrations, saying that they had not even been invited to participate in them.

Al-Jamaa Islamiya had also announced that it will not participate in the downtown rallies.

Salafist movements in Tripoli however had voiced their readiness to take part in the demonstrations, saying that they would stage a rally in the city’s Nour square in support of the Beirut sit-ins.