Blackwell Reference Online

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Gathering in opposition to Syrian military control of Lebanon through a surrogate government that denied freedom and basic rights, peaceful demonstrations were led by a multi-confessional coalition of Lebanese in 2005. While many believed that Syria had successfully restored peace and political order after the 1980s civil war, a growing number opposed their military presence, even if a withdrawal could potentially renew communal and factional conflicts. The demonstrations were triggered by the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on February 14, 2005, who was believed by some to have been killed by Syria after calling for it to pull its troops out of Lebanon. After Hariri's assassination the opposition called for a timetable for the complete withdrawal of Syrian armed forces and intelligence services. In addition, it demanded an international investigation into Hariri's death. The degree of US and other foreign influence and pressure on the Lebanese at this writing remains unclear. Dubbed the “Cedar Revolution” by the US State Department, the majority of the protesters were young Lebanese from Beirut's middle and upper classes, predominantly Christian, Druze, and Sunnis. Opposition groups included members of the Socialist Party (mostly Druze), the Qornet Shahwan Gathering (Christian), the student movement of the outlawed Christian Lebanese Forces Party, the ... log in or subscribe to read full text