<p class="title">Lebanon marked 76 years of self-rule Friday, with protesters joining festivities nationwide instead of a military parade to mark what they say is a first year of "real independence".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Christians and Muslims from across the political spectrum have for weeks marched together united in their rejection of a governing class they deem inept and corrupt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The youth-led movement has boosted a new cross-sectarian pride in the small Mediterranean nation that was torn by a bloody 1975-1990 civil war -- a fresh sense of optimism that was on full display Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We're all here together to build a new Lebanon," said one reveller in the crowds in Beirut's central Martyrs' Square, Karl, a middle-aged cyclist with a national flag draped on his bicycle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Throughout the day, tens of thousands had massed across the country for outdoor festivities -- the upbeat mood in stark contrast to the sober state ceremonies held in the morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The street movement brought down the government last month, though a new cabinet has yet to be formed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The demonstrations have brought together people from different religious and political backgrounds, who share the hope of sweeping out a system they say is broken and often unable to provide even basic services.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's the first time Lebanese from all religious communities have protested en masse without a political party calling for it, and against all parties," said 21-year-old university student Tamara.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"That's real independence -- one that's organic".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lebanon achieved independence on November 22, 1943, after 23 years under a French mandate, following an earlier wave of demonstrations that brought together the country's Christians and Muslims.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the country was ripped apart in the 1975-1990 civil war.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two more foreign powers occupied the tiny multi-confessional country -- Israel from 1978 to 2000, and Syria from 1976 to 2005.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A post-war accord sought to share out power between Lebanon's various religious communities, but the country remained deeply divided along sectarian lines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many Lebanese however now feel united by the new protest movement, whatever their backgrounds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In a sign of defiance on Friday, demonstrators in Beirut replaced an iconic symbol of the protests, less than 24 hours after it was burnt down by an unknown perpetrator.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After dark, dozens of demonstrators in Martyrs' Square hauled into place the giant cutout of a clenched fist, inscribed with the word "revolution".</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the afternoon, huge crowds cheered on an alternative civil society parade representing various groups, from students and farm workers to scouts, hikers and bikers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A team celebrating nature clutched flowers and tree branches, while elsewhere women were clanging saucepans, as they have done every evening to protest against the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And a troop of expatriates -- the Lebanese diaspora being famously widespread -- pushed suitcases in front of them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About 600 Lebanese expatriates were expected to be travelling in, from the Gulf, Europe, North America and as far afield as Australia, to join the party.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I hope this independence day will be a turning point," said Leila, a woman carrying cymbals in both hands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Our pockets are still empty but we've found a new dignity," she told AFP, before zipping back into the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wajed, a 26-year-old activist, also said this year's independence day gave him fresh hope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We want to emancipate ourselves from the corrupt people governing us," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A revised version of the national anthem is making the rounds online to pay tribute to Lebanese women, many of whom have played a central role in the protests.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two people have so far been killed during the protests, a far cry from the hundreds dead in similar demonstrations in Iraq.</p>
<p class="title">Lebanon marked 76 years of self-rule Friday, with protesters joining festivities nationwide instead of a military parade to mark what they say is a first year of "real independence".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Christians and Muslims from across the political spectrum have for weeks marched together united in their rejection of a governing class they deem inept and corrupt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The youth-led movement has boosted a new cross-sectarian pride in the small Mediterranean nation that was torn by a bloody 1975-1990 civil war -- a fresh sense of optimism that was on full display Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We're all here together to build a new Lebanon," said one reveller in the crowds in Beirut's central Martyrs' Square, Karl, a middle-aged cyclist with a national flag draped on his bicycle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Throughout the day, tens of thousands had massed across the country for outdoor festivities -- the upbeat mood in stark contrast to the sober state ceremonies held in the morning.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The street movement brought down the government last month, though a new cabinet has yet to be formed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The demonstrations have brought together people from different religious and political backgrounds, who share the hope of sweeping out a system they say is broken and often unable to provide even basic services.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's the first time Lebanese from all religious communities have protested en masse without a political party calling for it, and against all parties," said 21-year-old university student Tamara.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"That's real independence -- one that's organic".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lebanon achieved independence on November 22, 1943, after 23 years under a French mandate, following an earlier wave of demonstrations that brought together the country's Christians and Muslims.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the country was ripped apart in the 1975-1990 civil war.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two more foreign powers occupied the tiny multi-confessional country -- Israel from 1978 to 2000, and Syria from 1976 to 2005.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A post-war accord sought to share out power between Lebanon's various religious communities, but the country remained deeply divided along sectarian lines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many Lebanese however now feel united by the new protest movement, whatever their backgrounds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In a sign of defiance on Friday, demonstrators in Beirut replaced an iconic symbol of the protests, less than 24 hours after it was burnt down by an unknown perpetrator.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After dark, dozens of demonstrators in Martyrs' Square hauled into place the giant cutout of a clenched fist, inscribed with the word "revolution".</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the afternoon, huge crowds cheered on an alternative civil society parade representing various groups, from students and farm workers to scouts, hikers and bikers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A team celebrating nature clutched flowers and tree branches, while elsewhere women were clanging saucepans, as they have done every evening to protest against the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">And a troop of expatriates -- the Lebanese diaspora being famously widespread -- pushed suitcases in front of them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">About 600 Lebanese expatriates were expected to be travelling in, from the Gulf, Europe, North America and as far afield as Australia, to join the party.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I hope this independence day will be a turning point," said Leila, a woman carrying cymbals in both hands.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Our pockets are still empty but we've found a new dignity," she told AFP, before zipping back into the crowd.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wajed, a 26-year-old activist, also said this year's independence day gave him fresh hope.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We want to emancipate ourselves from the corrupt people governing us," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A revised version of the national anthem is making the rounds online to pay tribute to Lebanese women, many of whom have played a central role in the protests.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two people have so far been killed during the protests, a far cry from the hundreds dead in similar demonstrations in Iraq.</p>