JERUSALEM – An estimated 800,000 rallied this afternoon in central Beirut in the largest anti-Syrian protest in Lebanon since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and one of the largest protests in recent Middle East history.

Lebanese fill central square in protest of Syria's occupation (Lebanon Daily Star)

Crowds from across Lebanon gathered in Martyrs' Square in central Beirut, a few miles from Hariri's grave, to demand the immediate withdrawal of Syrian troops for the country, the firing of Syrian-backed intelligence forces, and an international inquiry into Hariri's killing.

The masses waved Lebanese flags and shouted ''Syria out'' and ''Down with the government.'' One poster read ''We want the truth: Who killed Hariri?'' and another said ''May God curse your killers.''

Opposition leaders said announcements were sent using the telephones, e-mail and text-messaging urging citizens from every town to attend the Beirut rally today and demand ''the truth'' over Hariri’s killing.

By midday, three hours before the protest was scheduled to begin, tens of thousands had arrived. The crowds reportedly included Druze, Sunni Muslim, Christian and some Shiite citizens.

Some were worried the protests could spill over into violence. There have been reports from the opposition that Syrian-backed forces have been shooting in civilian areas to provoke a conflict and precipitate a deteriorating security situation that would require Damascus to delay removal of its nearly 20,000 troops from Lebanon.

Syrian president Bashar Assad yesterday offered the United Nations a timetable for what he said would be a full withdrawal of his military and intelligence agencies from Lebanese territory, pledging to move all Syrian military assets into Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and shut down Syria's intelligence headquarters in Beirut by April 1.

Political sources told reporters Lebanese authorities were pondering a ban on future demonstrations to be enforced by the country's army.

President Emile Lahoud this weekend called for an end to the street protests and urged the opposition to engage in talks with his government, which reinstated ousted prime minister Omar Karami last week. Karami is considered pro-Damascus, and his appointment is widely regarded by opposition leaders as an attempt by Syria to continue its dominance of Lebanese politics.

Today's rally follows protests yesterday and last week organized by Hezbollah forces in which hundreds of thousands packed into a central Beirut meeting square, chanting support for Syrian troops to maintain positions in Lebanon and denouncing America in what has been called a massive show of strength by pro-Syrian elements.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Michel Aoun discounted Hezbollah rallies in a WND exclusive interview, explaining they included non-Lebanese citizens, Syrian workers, students and municipal employees coerced into joining.