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A Cry for Democracy in Lebanon

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Martyrs' Square in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 28. The government bans such actions, but angry people kept streaming into the square. In response to the protests, the country's prime minister, Omar Karami, resigned.

But the Lebanese people want much more than that. They are demanding that neighboring Syria remove its military force of 14,000 from their country. Syria has wielded control over Lebanon for nearly 30 years.

For weeks, Lebanon has been in a state of unrest. On February 14, a popular former prime minister of the country, Rafiq Hariri, was assassinated. Syria denies that it was responsible for the killing. But the assassination unleashed anti-Syrian feelings.

"We will continue to (protest) every day until the Syrian army leaves Lebanon and until the truth is determined in Hariri's assassination," said Sami Makhlouf, 18, at a demonstration last Tuesday.

World leaders are also pressuring Syria to withdraw its troops. The world, says U.S. President George W. Bush, "is speaking with one voice when it comes to making sure that democracy has a chance to flourish in Lebanon."

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