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Hezbollah to hold 'victory' rally Hezbollah head at 'victory' rally
(about 4 hours later)
Hezbollah is due to hold a major rally in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut, to celebrate what it describes as its victory over Israel. Hundreds of thousands of people have massed in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to celebrate what Hezbollah militants call their victory over Israel.
The militant Lebanese group has declared a "divine victory" over Israel in the recent conflict. The group's leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, appeared at the rally - his first public appearance since July.
Hezbollah says that as many as 500,000 supporters will gather in an area of Beirut that Israel bombed repeatedly. People packed into the city's southern suburbs, heavily bombed during the recent conflict, waving yellow and green flags and chanting slogans.
Five weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ended on 14 August with a ceasefire that has largely held. Hezbollah has declared the recent five-week conflict a "divine victory".
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ended on 14 August with a ceasefire that has largely held.
Israel lost 116 soldiers in the fighting, while 43 civilians were killed in Hezbollah rocket attacks.Israel lost 116 soldiers in the fighting, while 43 civilians were killed in Hezbollah rocket attacks.
More than 1,000 Lebanese civilians and an unknown number of Hezbollah fighters were killed in the conflict.More than 1,000 Lebanese civilians and an unknown number of Hezbollah fighters were killed in the conflict.
Israel failed to achieve its stated war aims of driving Hezbollah fighters from the border, stopping rocket attacks and freeing two of its soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid.Israel failed to achieve its stated war aims of driving Hezbollah fighters from the border, stopping rocket attacks and freeing two of its soldiers captured by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid.
Nasrallah may attend High security
It is not clear whether Hezbollah's leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, will attend what is being called a "victory festival". He has not been seen in public, except on television, since before the conflict started. Security in the streets around the rally point was intense, the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Beirut says, with Hezbollah monitoring everyone entering the area and all rooftops manned.
The Hezbollah leader has said that this rally will remember the martyrs, the wounded and the supporters of the resistance. It had been unclear whether Sheikh Nasrallah will attend what is being called a "victory festival". He has only been seen on television since before the conflict started.
BBC Beirut correspondent Crispin Thorold says the rally is also intended to strengthen Hezbollah's political agenda in Lebanon. There had been uncertainty over whether Israel would consider him a target if he appeared in public.
Supporters waving flags headed to rally throughout the morningThe Hezbollah leader has said that this rally will remember the martyrs, the wounded and the supporters of the resistance.
A spokesman for Sheikh Nasrallah said he would make a "landmark historic speech" and outline plans for the group's future, the Associated Press reported.
Our correspondent says the rally is also intended to strengthen Hezbollah's political agenda in Lebanon.
All of the major politicians allied to Hezbollah are expected to attend.All of the major politicians allied to Hezbollah are expected to attend.
The Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, says that he has not been invited.The Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, says that he has not been invited.
Since the cessation of hostilities Hezbollah has been organising reconstruction in its heartlands and paying compensation to the families whose homes were destroyed.Since the cessation of hostilities Hezbollah has been organising reconstruction in its heartlands and paying compensation to the families whose homes were destroyed.
But it has also been calling for a government of national unity to replace the current one.But it has also been calling for a government of national unity to replace the current one.