HUNDREDS of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut yesterday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria's long domination of its smaller neighbour.

A MILLION demonstrators chanting “Freedom, sovereignty, independence” crowded into Beirut’s main square yesterday, the biggest protest yet in the opposition’s duel of street rallies with supporters of the Syrian-backed government.

WITH shouts of "Syria out," more than 25,000 flag-waving protesters massed outside parliament yesterday sweeping out Lebanon's pro-Syrian government two weeks after the assassination of a former prime minister.

THE Iraqi government issued a long-anticipated package of security laws yesterday to help crush insurgents, including a provision allowing interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to impose martial law.