BEIRUT, Lebanon - The second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri's assassination in central Beirut was anything but a somber and mournful affair. The mood was one of defiance rather than grief.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese turned the commemoration into yet another opportunity to finger-point at Syria and blame Lebanon's political woes on the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Tuesday's fatal twin bus bomb explosions in a Lebanese Christian area only served to make pro-government loyalists massed in Martyrs Square more adamant to show up, they said.

"Bombs don't make any difference to us. We are not afraid. We are only afflicted by what God has fated for us," said Khadijah Dabtiyeh, 36, amid thousands of soldiers in full combat gear in Martyrs Square.

"Whatever happens we'll still be here. Even if airplanes bomb us, we'll never be scared," said Daad Oud, 52.

Hariri's killing on February 14, 2005 which many Lebanese blame on Syria, sparked an outpouring of anger against Damascus forcing it to end its 29-year presence in Lebanon.

But two years on, the Sunni Muslim-led government's supporters, many of whom showed up to the rally sporting red caps proclaiming "We really miss you Hariri," also blamed Hezbollah for being at least complicit in attacks.

"Syria's first partner is Hezbollah. Sure, they (Hezbollah) condemn acts, but they never accuse," said Nahla Zehayri, 35, as she made her way toward the mass gathering.

"Their interest in Tuesday's incident is to plant fear in the Lebanese people. But we are here to awaken their conscience," said Zehayri's mother, Jamila, 63.

POLITICAL PARALYSIS

Lebanon has been gripped in a state of political paralysis after the government refused to agree to demands by the Hezbollah-led opposition of more veto power in a new government.

Metal barricades and barbed wire separating pro-government supporters meters from opposition activists who have been camped out near the government's headquarters since December 1 sharpened Lebanon's deeply paralyzed political landscape.

"We're here for national unity and to show that Hariri's blood will not go to waste," said 33-year-old Zaher Baydoun.

The demonstrators also blamed their opponents for stoking sectarian strife after nine people were killed and nearly 400 wounded in sectarian clashes last month, raising fears among many in Lebanon that the country could veer toward civil war.

"They (opposition) are pushing us toward civil war. They are enclosing on us. We never wanted sectarianism," Ibtisam Naseef, 40, said. -Reuters