Cedar Revolution -- five years ago

Five years ago hundreds of thousands of brave Lebanese went into the streets of Beirut on March 14, 2005, in the so-called 'Cedar Revolution', to demonstrate against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon. On March 14, 2005 the one-month memorial of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese rallied in central Beirut on Monday chanting "Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence" and carrying a huge Lebanese flag. They flocked from throughout the country, many unable to even enter the city due to heavy traffic. The peaceful rally was considered to be "the largest demonstration ever seen in Lebanon", with estimations of a turnout ranging from 1.2 million to 1.5 million people.