Huge Beirut rally demands change

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have held a mass rally in Beirut to protest against Lebanon's government.

As night fell, several thousand set up tents outside PM Fouad Siniora's office for an open-ended sit-in.

The opposition says it will keep up the pressure until the government resigns.

The protest follows weeks of rising tension in Lebanon, with the killing of a leading anti-Syrian politician and resignations from the cabinet.

Protest camp

The huge crowd turned central Beirut into a sea of red and white Lebanese flags.

Hezbollah leaders had asked people not to wave the yellow flag of their movement, which features a fist holding a Kalashnikov rifle.

The noisy but peaceful crowd filled Riad Solh Square, in front of Mr Siniora's office, says the BBC's Simon Wilson in Beirut.

Mr Siniora and some of his ministers were inside, just metres away, and will have heard the deafening music and speeches, our correspondent says.

The army and police mounted a large security operation, closing off the prime minister's office and other key buildings with barbed wire and armoured vehicles.

Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6197992.stm