Lebanon celebrates independence

Lebanon celebrated its independence today, free of Syrian troops for the first time in 29 years.

Soldiers paraded before the president, prime minister ad parliamentary speaker in Martyr’s Square, central Beirut.

No Syrian officials attended the celebrations, an indication of tension between the two neighbours.

Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in April and a UN investigation in September accused Syrian and Lebanese intelligence of taking part in the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The celebrations came as clashes continued for a second day between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israeli forces on the south Lebanese border.

In yesterday’s fighting, four Hezbollah guerrillas were killed and 11 Israeli troops were wounded.