Beirut, Lebanon ? Defeated in a battle against Syrian control of his country 15 years ago and sent into exile, Gen. Michel Aoun returned Saturday to a welcome from thousands of supporters in a homeland recently freed of Syrian troops.

The former army commander was already emerging as a player in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Supporters of anti-Syrian leader Michel Aoun, seen in poster, view a welcome rally for their leader on top of a fence Saturday in the Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut. Aoun supporters celebrated him shortly after his arrival in the Lebanese capital, ending his 15-year exile in Paris.

“Here I am today, returning to you, and Lebanon has become sovereign, free and independent,” he told a flag-waving crowd of at least 20,000 in a central Beirut square who cheered wildly, danced, hugged, kissed and even wept in joy.

Aoun, also a former interim prime minister, returned less than two weeks after Syria completed the withdrawal of its remaining 14,000 troops in Lebanon.

In a reminder of the fragile security, police officials said they arrested two Syrian nationals and a Lebanese who approached the platform from where Aoun addressed the crowd. The Syrian national, identified as Mohammed Jamal, was carrying a pistol concealed under his jacket, finger on the trigger, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.