From left to right Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Brazil's vice President Michel Temer of Lebanese decent, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, attend a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.(AP Photo/Hussein

Lebanese special forces soldiers descend from a helicopter as they show their skill during a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Dailystar: The Lebanese have commemorated the 68th anniversary of independence from France in the capital Beirut,

BEIRUT: Lebanese officials offered mixed feelings as the celebrations for the 68th anniversary of Lebanon’s independence got under way Tuesday.

President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi all attended the 50-minute Independence Day military parade at Shafiq Wazzan Avenue in Downtown Beirut Tuesday morning.

Also present was Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer, who is in Lebanon on an official visit. Temer is of Lebanese origin.

A 21-gun salute was fired at the start of the parade after which Sleiman laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

A helicopter show greeted Sleiman's motorcade upon arrival. Infantry and navy commandos took part in the parade which ran without a hitch under a bright sun, a contrast to the heavy rain storms that hit the country last week.

At the end of the parade, Sleiman, Berri and Mikati headed to the presidential palace in suburban Baabda to receive well-wishers.

Sleiman paid tribute to Independence Day on its eve, Monday night: “Yes for independence. Yes for coexistence. Yes for freedom and social justice,” he said in a televised speech.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Wednesday the need to draw a separation line between Lebanon’s commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and its work.

He reiterated the need to pay that share and hoped the Lebanese would cooperate to honor Lebanon’s international obligations.

The president expressed concern about the security situation in Lebanon for its close link to the developments in Syria. But said he had no fears of a deterioration in the situation because not a single party in Lebanon has an interest in that.

Asked about the infiltrations of Syrian troops into Lebanese territories in the north and east, Suleiman told al-Liwaa that he has held phone conversations with Syrian President Bashar Assad about the issue after which authorities in Damascus apologized for the “unintentional violations.”

Syria vowed to stop such infiltrations out of respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, Suleiman said. “The Syrians have planted landmines along the border to prevent infiltrations and smuggling.”

He called for “more democracy and economic and social reforms” as a response to the winds of change.

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Lebanese school children wear military uniforms with the symbol of the Lebanese flag on their heads, as they walk at the corniche seaside a day ahead of the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Lebanese special forces army soldier show his skill during a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese veterans, who fought with the French army during World War II stand for moment of silent as they attend a ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the end of World War I, at the French war cemetery in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. Armistice Day is the symbolic anniversary of the end of World War I and in modern times it recognizes all people who have died in conflicts around the world. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese special forces army soldiers show their skill during a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Lebanese army trucks pull artillery pieces during a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel (L-R), Lebanese politician and widow of former President Rene Moawad, Nayla, Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer, Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri attend a military parade to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence day in downtown Beirut November 22, 2011. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: ANNIVERSARY POLITICS)

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (L) reviews army troops with Defence Minister Fayez Ghosn during a military parade to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence day in downtown Beirut November 22, 2011. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: ANNIVERSARY POLITICS MILITARY)

French and Lebanese veterans who served in the French army during the Second World War, salute during a ceremony in front of the French War cemetery in Beirut November 11, 2011. France, the formal colonial power in Lebanon, has 3,000 soldiers buried in Lebanon from the two world wars, which engulfed the strategic Middle East. The French diplomatic mission in Beirut honoured on Friday French soldiers during a ceremony to mark Remembrance Day. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: MILITARY ANNIVERSARY)

From left to right Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Brazil's vice President Michel Temer of Lebanese decent, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, attend a military parade to mark the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday Nov. 22, 2011. Lebanon gained independence from France in 1943.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)