Crowd demands full Syrian withdrawal

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.

Crowds of Druse, Christians and Sunni Muslims flooded Martyrs' Square and spilled over into nearby streets responding to an opposition call to turn out for the removal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

"We are coming to liberate our country. We are coming to demand the truth," said Fatma Trad, a veiled Sunni Muslim woman who travelled from the remote region of Dinniyeh in northern Lebanon to take part.