Site FeedHalf an hour before the rally was due to begin Riad al-Solh Square, one of the largest open spaces in Beirut, was already full but more kept coming, often several hundred at a time, and overflowed into side roads and on to flyovers.
In the city centre many shops closed and streets were almost deserted. Large numbers of troops stood by on the fringes of the demonstration.
Trying to estimate the number was futile, but half a million would be plausible and a million not unbelievable.
From a distance it resembled a larger version of Monday's opposition rally.
The anti-Syrian protesters who have attracted worldwide attention are mostly Christians, plus Sunni Muslims and Druze, and they are generally from the better-off sections of Lebanese society. Yesterday's masses were overwhelmingly the poorer - and historically downtrodden - Shia, who form 40% of the population. Armani sweaters and flashy sunglasses were not to be seen.
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