By Van Meguerditchian 

BEIRUT: A gathering of Lebanese activists in solidarity with demonstrators in Syria was called off by the management of Hotel Bristol Tuesday, after pro-Syrian groups warned against such an event.
The conference, which was set to take place Tuesday afternoon, was canceled hours before members of civil society groups were set to meet at Bristol, which has hosted a number of the March 14 coalition’s meetings over the past few years.

In a statement Tuesday morning, the hotel’s administration said that the cancelation was for reasons that had nothing to do with its willingness to host the conference.
“The administration of Bristol Hotel regrets being unable to host the conference, set to take place today at the hotel, for reasons outside its willingness, and [in order] to keep the staff of the institution neutral,” said the statement.

A group of Lebanese activists called, “Lebanese for the freedom and dignity of the Syrian people,” was to meet at the Bristol Hotel to denounce the Syrian regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters.
According to humanitarian and security sources, more than 850 people have died in Syria since demonstrations began two months ago. But for the most part, opponents of the Syrian regime in Lebanon have avoided commenting on the ongoing unrest.
Hundreds of Syrians have fled into northern Lebanon from the town of Tal Kalakh over the last few days, where there were reports of heavy fighting.

Despite their eagerness to hold the conference elsewhere, the group was unable to find another venue in Beirut after other hotels expressed fear that possible security incidents that could disturb guests and harm their business.
The Gathering of Parties, comprising pro-Syrian secular and Muslim parties, called Monday on the security forces not to allow any assembly that opposes the Assad regime, saying such stances would harm Syrian-Lebanese ties.
“The Gathering warns of the dangers and repercussions that could result from holding such a suspicious meeting and it also warns of providing assistance to armed Syrian groups under humanitarian pretexts,” the statement released by the pro-Syrian group said Monday.

But a gathering in support of Syrian demonstrators would definitely take place in the days to come, an activist told The Daily Star. “We insist on holding the gathering. We will announce its date and venue in the coming hour,” said Walid Fakhreddine. “There will be no backing down.”