BEIRUT: Protesters backing Syrian President Bashar Assad gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy, praising Beijing for its veto at the U.N. Security Council last week that blocked the introduction of a resolution condemning Assad's lethal crackdown.

Some 150 Syrians of various ages gathered at 1 p.m. in front of the Chinese mission in Ramlet al-Baida carrying balloons and Syrian as well as Hezbollah flags.

Security personnel, standing guard in front of the embassy, watched on as demonstraters chanted praises of Assad, who faces growing international pressure to end his brutal crackdown on protesters calling for reforms.

They also took aim at Qatar, shouting out derogatory statements about the Arab state’s prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani.

Last week, both Russia and China vetoed at the U.N. Security Council an Arab and Western-backed resolution that called for the condemnation of the crackdown by Assad as well as urge him to hand over power.

The United Nations estimates over 6,000 Syrians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the crackdown started in March 2011.

Damascus denies targeting civilians, blaming “armed gangs” for their deaths.

Later Sunday, demonstrators, all dressed in black, are expected to march in solidarity with the Syrian people calling for reforms and the departure of Assad. The march will likely launch from Ain al-Mreisseh and end in Manara in the capital.