Hariri: Impossible for Arms to be Raised Against People Longing for Democracy

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Sunday that it was impossible for Hizbullah's arms to be raised against people longing for democracy and the truth and justice in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case, as hundreds of thousands of March 14 supporters rallied at Beirut's Martyrs Square to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Cedar Revolution.

"It is impossible for the arms to be toys thrown at our kids and for weapons to be raised against people longing for democracy," Hariri told a cheering crowd.

"It is impossible to give up the truth, justice and Lebanon," he added. "We won't give up our freedom and we will defend our democracy and constitution."

"You know very well there was nothing impossible to achieve since Rafik Hariri was killed and since the day we met six years ago with the same Lebanese flags," Hariri told the March 14 supporters at the square.

He accused Israel of wanting Hizbullah to turn its arms against the Lebanese as in May 7, 2008 when the party's gunmen swept through Sunni neighborhoods in Beirut after the government tried to dismantle the group's telecommunications network.

"We are asking for a country in which there is a single strong army that confronts Israel," he said. "We are not asking for a country in which there is a military outside (the control of) the army … and a military that from time to time turns its weapons against the Lebanese."

"Do you accept arms? Do you want weapons to be outside the control of the state?" he asked cheering crowds.

"Do you want the establishment of a government that cuts Lebanon's relations with the international tribunal?" the Mustaqbal movement leader wondered.

"Do you accept the formation of a government which will try to eliminate the Special Tribunal for Lebanon? Do you accept a government that will stop financing the Special Tribunal?"

Hariri remained adamant, saying: "Lebanon and our dreams do not die. We will achieve our objectives."

"We still need to achieve freedom, because there cannot be freedom for a people when its State, Constitution, security, economy, future and decision are subject to the supremacy of weapons and to those who control the weapons.

"You heard them tell you once again that it is impossible. But this won't work because you knew from the beginning, six years ago, when Rafik Hariri was martyred and we gathered in this Square, that nothing is impossible," Hariri stressed.