The leader of Lebanon's anti-Syrian bloc warned on Thursday that Syria was behind the planned Hezbollah protests to bring down the government, trying to restore its power in the country. Saad Hariri vowed the campaign would fail, but called for restraint among his supporters when Hezbollah supporters hold a mass demonstration Friday. The rally is the start of a campaign of open-ended protests called by the Shiite Muslim group and its political allies."Tomorrow is a day when we will show our resolve ... our calm," Hariri said in an interview with The Associated Press and Associated Press Television News. "They won't be able to bring down the government, because the government has the support of the majority of the parliament and the majority of the Lebanese people," he said.
The anti-Syrian bloc dominates parliament and the government, elected on broad support among Lebanon's Christians and Sunni Muslims. Hezbollah and pro-Syrian parties are demanding more power in the government.