Lebanese mourn latest political victim

[frigidmagi]

BBC

Another bombing, another funeral. The rituals of Lebanese political life are increasingly dominated by funeral processions.

Lebanese parliamentarian Antoine Ghanim was killed in a car bomb on Wednesday.

He was the eighth anti-Syrian figure to be killed here in two and a half years.

On Friday, hundreds of mourners gathered in the mainly Christian Furn el-Shebak district in East Beirut, the constituency of the murdered politician.

As Mr Ghanim's coffin, decked in the Lebanese flag, was carried shoulder-high through the crowds, people from balconies showered the cortege with rice - a traditional Lebanese mourning ritual.

The funeral procession and service was also held for two bodyguards, Nouhad Ghoreib and Tony Daou, who were killed alongside Mr Ghanim.

'Defiance'

Antoine Ghanim's coffin is carried
Mr Ghanim's death has deepened the country's political crisis

"We thought the killing was over," said Charbel Saade, 29, a teacher, holding a Lebanese flag. "But it keeps going on and it needs to stop."

As the funeral cortege passed, a few people wept, others cheered, and some jumped as fire crackers exploded from a rooftop.

One young boy started dancing to the sound of a brass band, only to be severely reprimanded by his mother.

The procession moved to the Sacre Coeur church, where hundreds of mourners joined a host of Lebanese politicians, including Saad Hariri, the son of the murdered former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, attending the funeral service.

There was an air of defiance both inside and outside the church. Prominent leaders were cheered as they arrived.

During the church service, Mr Ghanem's daughter addressed his killers, saying: "Please allow me to turn to the killer with a potent weapon, please allow me to start with a prayer."

Divisions

The question dividing Lebanon is: who is behind the killings?


We thought the killing was over but it keeps going on and it needs to stop


Charbel Saade, teacher

Those attending the funeral are in little doubt that Syria is responsible for this assassination and the ones before, including the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Syria, however, strenuously denies these charges and described the latest attack as a "criminal act" that undermined attempts at Lebanese national reconciliation.

But the series of assassinations - for which nobody has been prosecuted - has deepened the spilt between the anti- and pro-Syrian blocs in parliament.

Currently, the anti-Syrian bloc is in power.

The latest killing comes as Lebanese politicians begin the process of appointing a new president next week.

Political deadlock

Charbel Saade
Many people are wondering who may be assassinated next

Prime Minister Fouad Sinoria insists that the election will go ahead, but the process faces political and procedural difficulties.

The government's position has not been helped by the killings of anti-Syrian parliamentarians, which has reduced its majority. It now only has 68 out of 128 parliamentarians.

The political situation here is expected to remain tense.

There are reports in Lebanese newspapers that the two sides are going to have a further round of discussions to try and resolve the deadlock.

But nobody here thinks that this current political crisis is going to be resolved anytime soon - indeed, it could worsen.

Many are wondering who is going to be assassinated next.

I'll repeat. How fucking long is Syria going to be allowed to behave like the damn Russian mob on a bender?

[Lord Iames Osari]

Until somebody with enough power says "Stop doing that, or we'll make you stop."