Cedar Revolution

Cedar Revolution
Cedar Revolution Demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Date	14 February – 27 April 2005
Location	Lebanon (especially in the capital Beirut)
Caused by	The assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri
Goals	Withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon Ousting Karami's Pro-Syrian government Firing the six Lebanese commanders of the nation's main security services along with the State Prosecutor Executing the complete withdrawal of the Syrian troops and their security services from Lebanon Unmasking the killers of Rafic Hariri Running free and democratic parliament elections in spring 2005 free from Syrian interference Return of Amine Gemayel to power Improving Lebanon's ties with the Western World
Resulted in	Victory of the anti-Syrian coalition
Parties
Before March 14: Anti-Syrian protesters and groups After March 14: March 14 Alliance Lebanese Forces Kataeb Party Future Movement Progressive Socialist Party National Liberal Party Democratic Left Movement Free Patriotic Movement Supported by:  Saudi Arabia  United States  Denmark  Norway  Sweden  Netherlands  Germany  France  Belgium  Italy  Romania  United Kingdom Syrian Arab Army Lebanese Government Before March 8: Pro-Syrian protesters and groups After March 8: March 8 Alliance Hezbollah SSNP Amal Movement Marada Movement Pro-Syrian Ba'ath Party Supported by: Iran Russia[1]  Belarus  Libya  Sudan  Algeria  North Korea  India
Lead figures
Amine Gemayel Samy Gemayel Pierre Gemayel Nadim Gemayel Samir Geagea Sethrida Geagea Saad Hariri Fouad Siniora Walid Jumblatt Camille D. Chamoun Ziad Majed Gebran Tueini Michel Aoun Bashar al-Assad Muhammad Naji al-Otari Hasan Turkmani Ali Habib Mahmud Omar Karami Hassan Nasrallah Mohammad Raad Gebran Araiji Assaad Hardan Nabih Berri Suleiman Frangieh Jr. Assem Qanso
Number
Around 1 million protesters
Popular mottos of the movement were Hurriyye, Siyede, Istiqlel (Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence), and Haqiqa, Hurriyye, Wehde wataniyye (Truth, Freedom, National unity)

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The Cedar Revolution (Arabic: ثورة الأرز, romanized: thawrat al-arz), also known as the Independence uprising (Arabic: انتفاضة الاستقلال, romanized: intifadat al-istiqlal), was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon (especially in the capital Beirut) triggered by the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The popular movement was remarkable for its avoidance of violence, peaceful approach, and its total reliance on methods of civil resistance.^[2]

The primary goals of the activists were the withdrawal of the Syrian troops which had occupied Lebanon since 1976, the replacement of a government heavily influenced by Syrian interests by 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. More generally, the demonstrators demanded the end of the Syrian influence in Lebanese politics.

At the start of the demonstrations, Syria had a force of roughly 14,000 soldiers and intelligence agents in Lebanon.^[3] Following the demonstrations, the Syrian troops completely withdrew from Lebanon on 27 April 2005. With the resignation of the pro-Syrian Karami government on 19 April, the 2005 general election, and the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the main goals of the revolution were achieved.

The opposition used the white-and-red scarf and the blue ribbon as its symbols. The most popular motto of the movement was Hurriyyeh, Siyedeh, Istiqlel (Freedom, Sovereignty, Independence).