Police deploy to prevent Beirut anti-Syria protest

Freedom is only an idea for Americans and western culture. Most middle-easterners don't really want to be free. Or so the left tells us.

• Lebanese security forces deployed in force on Friday at main roads in Beirut and around universities to prevent students holding an unauthorised protest demanding an end to Syrian influence in the country.

  Soldiers and police set up roadblocks at the northern, southern and eastern entrances to Beirut, checking identities of people in vehicles and causing long traffic jams.

  In the Lebanese capital, two sit-in protests were due to be held around midday against what students term "Syrian hegemony" and in favour of "real independence".