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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Lebanese Christian leader killed | Lebanese Christian leader killed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pierre Gemayel, a leading anti-Syrian Lebanese minister and Maronite Christian leader, has been killed in the capital, Beirut. | Pierre Gemayel, a leading anti-Syrian Lebanese minister and Maronite Christian leader, has been killed in the capital, Beirut. |
| Mr Gemayel, 34, was shot in his car in a Christian suburb and rushed to hospital, where he died. | Mr Gemayel, 34, was shot in his car in a Christian suburb and rushed to hospital, where he died. |
| His death comes amid a political crisis in Lebanon, following the resignation of six pro-Syrian cabinet members. | His death comes amid a political crisis in Lebanon, following the resignation of six pro-Syrian cabinet members. |
| Mr Gemayel was a member of the Phalange Party and the son of former President Amin Gemayel. | |
| Gunmen opened fire on Mr Gemayel's convoy as it travelled through the Jdaideh neighbourhood. | Gunmen opened fire on Mr Gemayel's convoy as it travelled through the Jdaideh neighbourhood. |
| Television pictures from the scene showed two cars peppered with bullet holes, the bonnet of one of the vehicles crumpled. | Television pictures from the scene showed two cars peppered with bullet holes, the bonnet of one of the vehicles crumpled. |
| Supporters of Mr Gemayel gathered at the hospital where he was taken. | Supporters of Mr Gemayel gathered at the hospital where he was taken. |
| Killing condemned | Killing condemned |
| The news of the killing was confirmed by Saad Hariri, the son of the country's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was himself killed last year in a huge blast. | The news of the killing was confirmed by Saad Hariri, the son of the country's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was himself killed last year in a huge blast. |
| LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Former PM Rafik HaririJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel Obituary: Pierre Gemayel Send us your comments In pictures: Gemayel killing A recent UN report implicated Syria in Rafik Hariri's death, although Syria has denied involvement. | LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Former PM Rafik HaririJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel Obituary: Pierre Gemayel Send us your comments In pictures: Gemayel killing A recent UN report implicated Syria in Rafik Hariri's death, although Syria has denied involvement. |
| Saad Hariri, who is also the leader of the anti-Syrian coalition which has a majority in parliament, has now accused Damascus of being behind the killing of Mr Gemayel as well. | Saad Hariri, who is also the leader of the anti-Syrian coalition which has a majority in parliament, has now accused Damascus of being behind the killing of Mr Gemayel as well. |
| "The Cedar Revolution is under attack...Today one of our main believers in a free democratic Lebanon has been killed. We believe the hand of Syria is all over [this]," he told CNN. | "The Cedar Revolution is under attack...Today one of our main believers in a free democratic Lebanon has been killed. We believe the hand of Syria is all over [this]," he told CNN. |
| Syria denounced Mr Gemayel's assassination, calling it a "despicable crime." | Syria denounced Mr Gemayel's assassination, calling it a "despicable crime." |
| "Syria strongly condemns the killing," the official Syrian news agency, Sana, said. | "Syria strongly condemns the killing," the official Syrian news agency, Sana, said. |
| Western condemnation of Mr Gemayel's murder was also swift. | Western condemnation of Mr Gemayel's murder was also swift. |
| The convoy in which Gemayel was travelling was sprayed with gunfire"We are shocked by this assassination," US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters. | The convoy in which Gemayel was travelling was sprayed with gunfire"We are shocked by this assassination," US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters. |
| "We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," he added. | "We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," he added. |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the killing was "completely without any justification at all". | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the killing was "completely without any justification at all". |
| "We condemn this murder utterly... We need to do everything we can, particularly at this moment, to protect democracy in Lebanon and the premiership of Prime Minister [Fuoad] Siniora.," he said. | "We condemn this murder utterly... We need to do everything we can, particularly at this moment, to protect democracy in Lebanon and the premiership of Prime Minister [Fuoad] Siniora.," he said. |
| Six pro-Syrian ministers quit their jobs last week in an attempt to bring down the government after their calls for a greater role were rejected. | Six pro-Syrian ministers quit their jobs last week in an attempt to bring down the government after their calls for a greater role were rejected. |
| Despite the resignations, the depleted cabinet approved draft UN plans for setting up an international tribunal to try suspects in Mr Hariri's killing. | Despite the resignations, the depleted cabinet approved draft UN plans for setting up an international tribunal to try suspects in Mr Hariri's killing. |
| Are you in Lebanon? What's your reaction to the shooting? | Are you in Lebanon? What's your reaction to the shooting? |
| The BBC World Service radio programme World Have Your Say will be discussing this topic at 1800GMT and using comments left here during the show. As a result comments will not appear on this page. | The BBC World Service radio programme World Have Your Say will be discussing this topic at 1800GMT and using comments left here during the show. As a result comments will not appear on this page. |