BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Pro-Syrian Lebanese parties and activists Saturday called for joining a demonstration to protest the visit of a U.S. envoy to Beirut.
In a statement, the groups called on the Lebanese to publicly protest the visit of Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield to Beirut, which starts Saturday and expected to last for four days.
Satterfield, the former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, is to pay a condolence visit to the family of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive Feb. 14 explosion in Beirut.
He is also expected to meet separately with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud and several opposition leaders demanding the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from their country.
The pro-Syrian statement said Sattefield's visit constitutes a "blatant foreign intervention in Lebanon's affairs and a clear violation of its sovereignty," adding the visit is viewed as a way to place "Lebanon under a foreign mandate."
They called for holding a massive demonstration Monday in front of Hariri's tomb in downtown Beirut to "declare the genuine identity of Beirut and to tell the American to go home."
The economic and commercial sectors have called for a general strike Monday to protest Hariri's murder and the continued presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon.
