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Lebanon Christian leader shot dead |
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Written by News Editor
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Tuesday, 21 November 2006 |
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Pierre Gemayel, a Lebanese cabinet minister and member of the Maronite Christian Phalange party, has been shot dead in Beirut.
His car was attacked in a Christian area on Tuesday. Gemayel, son of ex-president Amin Gemayel, was a member of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, which is locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions.
Analysts say Gemayel's death is likely to worsen tensions in the already divided country. Gemayel's vehicle was rammed before gunmen riddled it with bullets. Al Jazeera's correspondent Roula Amin said that there was panic in Beirut after the assassination, with people rushing to get home. | Angry protesters in the Christian town of Zahle in eastern Lebanon blocked off streets and shouted slogans against Michel Aoun, the Christian opposition leader and an ally of Hezbollah, following the attack. The Kataeb (Phalange) party called on supporters to show self-restraint and foil "attempts to destabilise Lebanon".
Condemnation
Gemayel is the third Lebanese anti-Syrian figure to be assassinated since Rafiq al-Hariri, a businessman and former prime minister, was killed in February 2005. Amin quoted Saad al-Hariri, the head of the anti-Syrian Future bloc and Rafiq al-Hariri's son, as pointing an accusing finger at Syria. She said there had been speculation in recent weeks about a political assassination, with Hezbollah having put the Siniora government on notice. The Kataeb (Phalange) party was involved Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and has a considerable following among Christians. Ahmed Melli, member of Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera: "We strongly condemn and denounce this killing. It was carried out by those forces who want to harm the future of Lebanon." 'Syrian hand' Saad al-Hariri of the majority March 14 bloc said : "Today one of our main believers in a free, democratic Lebanon has been killed. We believe the hands of Syria are all over the place. "The people of Lebanon will not give up on the international tribunal. This will make them even more determined. We will bring justice to those who killed Pierre Gemayel." Jordan's King Abdullah said: "We strongly condemn this ugly crime. This is a cowardly act that targets the security and stability of Lebanon. "[The killing] was carried out by those forces who want to harm the future of Lebanon"
Ahmed Melli, Hezbollah member
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"The Lebanese have to unify their ranks at this phase and not allow the preachers of death, disunity and destruction to succeed in creating a split in the cohesion of the Lebanese people."
Pierre Amin Gemayel was born on 1972 in Bekfaya.
He had his education from La Sagesse University. He was married to Patricia Daif.
Gemayel was first elected as a deputy in 2000. He was re-elected as MP in 2005 from Metn, the second district of Mount Lebanon. He was also a member of the Maronite Christian Qornet Shehwan group. The shooting comes amid increased tensions in Lebanon. Shia ministers withdrew from the cabinet two weeks ago in protest over power-sharing in Lebanon's government, and Hezbollah is considering street demonstrations if early elections or a national unity government are not forthcoming. Second attack In a separate incident, shots were fired on the office of a Lebanese minister of state, shortly after Gemayel’s death. "The office of the state minister for parliamentary affairs, Michel Pharaon, in the Ashrafieh neighborhood was the target of gunshots today from gunmen in a white Suzuki car," Pharaon’s office said. "The security forces cordoned off the area and is carrying out the necessary measures to identify the culprits," who fled the scene, it added. Pharaon is a Greek-Catholic Christian MP from the majority anti-Syrian parliamentary bloc. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 November 2006 )
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