The Daily Star - Syrian protesters face off in Beirut - April 29, 2011

BEIRUT: Demonstrators backing rival sides in the ongoing protests in Syria faced off outside the Syrian Embassy in Beirut Friday.

Tensions prevailed as two groups of protesters, one backing President Bashar Assad’s regime, the other backing anti-government supporters in Syria, met outside the embassy on Hamra’s main thoroughfare, with Lebanese Army troops at the scene intervening to keep both sides apart.

The pro-Assad supporters numbered around 50 and were mainly Syrian workers, while the group critical of Assad, numbering 20, were Syrian Kurd families.

The hour-long demonstration, which came following Friday afternoon prayers, coincided with protests in Syria on the “Day of Rage.”