An estimated 2,000 people took to the streets in Beirut on Monday in memory of the 40-day anniversary of the death of outspoken anti-Syrian politician, activist and editor Gebran Tueni.
Many in the crowd expressed anger at their government's inability to resolve Lebanon's ongoing political and social problems.
Tueni had called repeatedly for Lebanese sovereignty, and more transparency in Lebanon's government. He also called for Syria to demarcate its border with Lebanon, and for liberating the Shebaa Farms region from Israeli occupation.
Many have expressed irony in recent comments made by Syrian President Bashar Assad that referred to demarcation as an "Israeli demand," according to Naharnet.
Doing so, they maintain, would be in Lebanon's interest, not Israel's, as it would test Israel's commitment to abiding by six UN Security Council resolutions calling for it to withdraw from Lebanese territory.
Following Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, Israel no longer occupied land considered Lebanese territory. Were Syria to acknowledge that the Shebaa Farms were Lebanese, Israel would be required to withdraw from them as well.
UN calls on Lebanon to disarm Hizbullah
The U.N. Security Council on Monday renewed it calls for Lebanon to disarm Hizbullah in the south of the country.
The group is presently considered a resistance group by Lebanon's government, and therefore allowed to bare arms. In the country's 2005 elections, it officially became part of the Lebanese government when it won seats in parliament.
According to Reuters, the Council also called on Lebanon to hold transparent presidential elections, while demanding that Syria curb the flow of arms to groups such as Hizbullah in neighboring Lebanon.
No successor has yet been chosen for Lebanon's pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud.
