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Around
three thousand Lebanese Forces supporters rallied at
a mass held for the commemoration of the LF martyrs
today in northern Lebanon, while the Lebanese Army arrested
hundreds in an attempt to stop them from joining the
crowds that denounced Syrian presence in Lebanon and
demanded the release of Samir Geagea, head of the dismantled
LF.
In fact, the Lebanese armed forces arrested at check-points
hundreds of LF supporters, including journalists. Some
of them were released after a few hours while others
are still detained.
In fact, families of the LF martyrs had called last
week for a mass to be held in commemoration of LF martyrs
at the Church of Our Lady in Maifouk, northern Lebanon.
The mass was due to be held at 11:30 AM but was delayed
to 3:00 PM because of the incidents that occurred with
the Lebanese Army.
Reports from the scene revealed that the Lebanese Army
had set up check-points, encircling the area of the
rally, preventing LF supporters from reaching Maifouk.
The 3000-strong crowd that succeeded in reaching Maifouk
rallied near the church and chanted slogans denouncing
the Syrian presence in Lebanon and demanding the release
of Samir Geagea, head of the disbanded LF.
Earlier this week, a mass held in the commemoration
of the 18th anniversary of President Bashir Gemayel's
assassination turned into a ceremony in which Kataeb
and Lebanese Forces supporters expressed their anger
and dismay over the current political situation in the
country.
It was the first time since the assassination of Gemayel
that a commemoration mass turns into a human demonstration
that shows the frustration of thousands of supporters
demanding the liberation of Geagea.
Geagea has been incarcerated in February 1994 on a series
of charges most of which he was acquitted.
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