| Thousands of mainly Christian students demonstrated in Beirut's streets Friday to protest the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon. The march was organized to mark Independence Day. "Syria out of Lebanon," read one of the banners hoisted by the protesters who shouted anti-Syria slogans such as, "Put an end to Syrian occupation." Muslim leftist parties also staged a sit-in Friday to protest violations of the constitution and public freedoms committed by the pro-Syrian regime of President Emile Lahoud. They were mainly protesting the amendment to the constitution at Syria's behest allowing the extension of Lahoud's mandate by three years. The Syrian army was dispatched to Lebanon in 1976 as part of a pan-Arab deterrence force to end Lebanese civil strife, which continued until 1990. |