NNA - Under the patronage of President of the Republic Michel Sleiman, the 70th anniversary of Lebanese Independence Day celebrations got under way at Chafic Wazzan Avenue in presence of all 3 presidents, key body politic members and army figures.



Army Chief-of-Staff Brig-Gen Waleed Sleiman, Army Commander Gen Jean Qahwaji and caretaker Defense minister Fayez Ghosn, were the first to take their place on the central pavilion.



A Lebanese army band saluted designated PM Tammam Salam and consecutively did the same for caretaker PM Mikati and Speaker Berri. Surface warships of the navy blew their sirens announcing the beginning of the annual military parade



Helicopters overflew the pavilion and were soon followed by singing of Wadee' Safi's patriotic songs by members of the choir of the Institute of Oriental Music.



Units from all 3 branches of the armed forces filed past the pavilion with units from the Equestrian school and Internal security, anti-terror squads and paratroopers also marching by.



The military parade was followed by celebrations and the traditional receptions at Baabda Presidential Palace, where House deputies and religious dignitaries well-wished the president many happy returns of Independence Day.



=========G.G./R.K.