page_title: Cedar Revolution
section_title: Second Anniversary
hierarchical_section_title: Cedar Revolution / Anniversaries / Second Anniversary
caption_attribution_description: Easily the happiest person I saw all day.
context_page_description: The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. The popular movement was remarkable for its avoidance of violence, peaceful approach, and its total reliance on methods of civil resistance.
  The primary goals of the activists were the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the replacement of a government heavily influenced by Syrian interests with more independent leadership, the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri, the resignation of security officials to ensure the success of the plan, and the organization of free parliamentary elections. The demonstrators demanded the end of the Syrian influence in Lebanese politics. At the start of the demonstrations, Syria had been maintaining a force of roughly 14,000 soldiers and intelligence agents in Lebanon. Following the demonstrations, the Syrian troops completely withdrew from Lebanon on 27 April 2005. With the disbanding of the Pro-Syrian government, the main goals of the revolution were achieved.
context_section_description: On 14 February 2007, tens of thousands of Lebanese gathered peacefully in Martyr’s Square to commemorate the second anniversary of former prime minister Rafik Hariri's assassination. The large number proved that the Cedar Revolution  was still going on, especially when the crowds turned the commemoration into a defiant opportunity to  blame Syria and Hezbollah for Lebanon's political woes.  The demonstrators fell silent at exactly 12:55 PM, the time of the explosion that killed Hariri on 14 February 2005. Only the muezzin making the Islamic call to prayer and the solemn tolling of church bells could be heard.
  The Bikfaya bombings had taken place the day before, killing three people. Fatah al-Islam was blamed.
caption: A protestor in Martyr's Square, 2006
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