Lebanon protesters vow to defy ban

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Lebanon's interior ministry on Sunday ordered troops to "use all necessary means" to prevent demonstrations Monday against Syria's military deployment, but protesters vowed to hold them anyway.

The demonstrations are to center on whether Syria played a role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in the capital on February 14.

Since then, thousands of demonstrators have peacefully protested Syria's military presence in Lebanon.

Monday's demonstrations were expected to be massive: Lebanon's pro-Syria government faces a possible vote of no confidence Monday. In advance of that parliamentary action, tens of thousands of Lebanese were hoping to take to the streets.

Syrian Cabinet Minister Bouthaina Shaaban denied Sunday that Syria was involved in the blast that killed Hariri, despite the U.S. State Department's contention that Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism and that Islamic fundamentalist groups Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hezbollah operate with Syrian support.

"Syria has never carried out a terrorist attack against anyone," Shaaban told CNN's "Late Edition."

Asked whether Syria is prepared to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, Shaaban said, "Syria has been redeploying its forces from Lebanon long before anybody in the international community asked Syria to do that."

Asked when that "redeployment" might be finalized, she said only that the two countries have "a schedule for the forces to withdraw," but did not say what that schedule stipulated.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, said he was not impressed by the Syrian minister's comments.

More ...