Hundreds of thousands of people crowded downtown Beirut on Saturday to observe the fourth anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination. Waving Lebanese and party flags as well as images of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered in Martyrs' Square where members of the parliamentary majority addressed them.
Security was tight in and around the capital with army troops deployed heavily to avoid violence.
The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June.
Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others.
