Assassination: Lebanon: Christian political leader opposed to Syria killed in political murder in Christian neibourhood

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Reuters journalist Nadim Ladki reports under the headline, "Lebanon minister shot dead, Hariri son blames Syria" (Nov 21, 2006):

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Gunmen on Tuesday assassinated Lebanese Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria, plunging Lebanon deeper into a crisis over ties with its dominant neighbor.

At least three gunmen rammed their car into Gemayel's vehicle near Beirut, then leapt out and riddled it with bullets, firing at Gemayel with silencer-equipped automatic weapons at point-blank range in a Christian neighborhood, witnesses said.

Ten bullet holes were seen around the window of the driver's seat of his grey car. The two front seats were soaked in blood.

The son of assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri blamed Syria for the killing in the Sin el-Fil area, but Damascus condemned the murder.

The assassination is certain to heighten tensions in Lebanon amid a deep political crisis pitting the anti-Syrian majority against the pro-Damascus opposition led by Hezbollah, which is determined to topple what it sees as a pro-U.S. government.

MidEast > Lebanon

Gemayel, 34, was rushed to hospital where he later died of his wounds. Hundreds of angry and weeping family members and supporters gathered at the hospital.

"We believe the hand of Syria is all over the place," Saad al-Hariri, whose father Rafik was killed in a suicide bombing last year, said shortly after Gemayel was shot dead.

"Syria strongly condemns the killing," the official Syrian news agency SANA said. The Shi'ite group Hezbollah also condemned the "low criminal act" and urged an investigation. Continued...

I urge readers who want a solid perspective on MidEast politics and especially now again the current volatile situation in Lebanon to please click up the Reuters story (3 short pages) to read the article by Nadim Ladki in full.

To my mind there are three major suspects in this lastest Lebanese assassination: Hizbullah, Syria, and the turncoat Lebanese Christian (former General) Michel Aoun, who a year ago led his Christian party Amal into a pro-Syria pro-Iran alliance with the Shi'ite terrorist party Hizbullah which instigated the recent war with Israel. Amal and the (horribly-named) Phalange party are rivals for the Christian communities' votes.

-- Politicarp

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