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| Thousands attend Beirut funeral | Thousands attend Beirut funeral |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of murdered anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel has taken place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of people paying tribute. | The funeral of murdered anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel has taken place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of people paying tribute. |
| Crowds carrying flags and posters converged in Beirut near St George Cathedral, where the service was held. | Crowds carrying flags and posters converged in Beirut near St George Cathedral, where the service was held. |
| Security was tight for the funeral, which had the air of a political rally, given Lebanon's state of high tension. | Security was tight for the funeral, which had the air of a political rally, given Lebanon's state of high tension. |
| Many Lebanese accuse Syria of involvement in Mr Gemayel's death, but Damascus rejects the claims. | Many Lebanese accuse Syria of involvement in Mr Gemayel's death, but Damascus rejects the claims. |
| The United Nations Security Council has agreed to a request from Lebanon to help investigate the murder. | |
| The industry minister and Maronite Christian politician was shot in his car in a Christian area of Beirut on Tuesday. | The industry minister and Maronite Christian politician was shot in his car in a Christian area of Beirut on Tuesday. |
| 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 Regional press accuses In pictures: Gemayel funeral | |
| He was the fifth anti-Syrian Lebanese politician to be killed in two years, and his murder has intensified an acute political crisis in Lebanon. | He was the fifth anti-Syrian Lebanese politician to be killed in two years, and his murder has intensified an acute political crisis in Lebanon. |
| Six pro-Syrian cabinet members have already resigned. The death or resignation of two more cabinet ministers would bring down the government. | Six pro-Syrian cabinet members have already resigned. The death or resignation of two more cabinet ministers would bring down the government. |
| US President George W Bush has pledged support for Lebanese independence from what he called the "encroachments of Iran and Syria". | US President George W Bush has pledged support for Lebanese independence from what he called the "encroachments of Iran and Syria". |
| 'Shove civil war' | 'Shove civil war' |
| Foreign envoys joined Mr Gemayel's family in the congregation, which greeted his coffin with applause. | Foreign envoys joined Mr Gemayel's family in the congregation, which greeted his coffin with applause. |
| The body of the 34-year-old politician was brought to the Beirut cathedral from his home village of Bikfaya. | The body of the 34-year-old politician was brought to the Beirut cathedral from his home village of Bikfaya. |
| KEY TERMS MARONITES are Christians affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church. 800,000-900,000 live in Lebanon, roughly 25% of population. Current patriarch is Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir. Lebanon's constitution requires that the president is MaronitePHALANGE (Kataeb in Arabic) is a Lebanese political party advocating Maronite interests, and dominated by the Gemayel family. Its militia was a major player in the civil war Lebanese crisis explained Lebanon: Key facts | KEY TERMS MARONITES are Christians affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church. 800,000-900,000 live in Lebanon, roughly 25% of population. Current patriarch is Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir. Lebanon's constitution requires that the president is MaronitePHALANGE (Kataeb in Arabic) is a Lebanese political party advocating Maronite interests, and dominated by the Gemayel family. Its militia was a major player in the civil war Lebanese crisis explained Lebanon: Key facts |
| Dozens of cars and buses had followed the cortege, waving the large white flags of the politician's right-wing Maronite Christian Phalange Party, and hooting their horns. | Dozens of cars and buses had followed the cortege, waving the large white flags of the politician's right-wing Maronite Christian Phalange Party, and hooting their horns. |
| Posters also appeared showing the face of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the slogan "Shove your civil war". | Posters also appeared showing the face of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the slogan "Shove your civil war". |
| Speakers addressed the crowds after the service from a bullet-proof box. | Speakers addressed the crowds after the service from a bullet-proof box. |
| The dead politician's father, former President Amin Gemayel, told them their presence was a clear message. | The dead politician's father, former President Amin Gemayel, told them their presence was a clear message. |
| "It is a warning for the sake of Lebanon for the establishment of real and genuine sovereignty," he said. | "It is a warning for the sake of Lebanon for the establishment of real and genuine sovereignty," he said. |
| His son's "soul would consolidate our faith to achieve all goals for which our heroes have been martyrs", he added. | His son's "soul would consolidate our faith to achieve all goals for which our heroes have been martyrs", he added. |
| Tribunal | Tribunal |
| Many Lebanese accuse Syria of involvement in the killing, which has sharpened tension between anti-Syrian forces, who back the government, and pro-Syrian groups like Hezbollah. | Many Lebanese accuse Syria of involvement in the killing, which has sharpened tension between anti-Syrian forces, who back the government, and pro-Syrian groups like Hezbollah. |
| The UN commission already looking into the murder of ex-Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 will take on the inquiry into Mr Gemayel's killing. | The UN commission already looking into the murder of ex-Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 will take on the inquiry into Mr Gemayel's killing. |
| Correspondents say such a tribunal is highly controversial in Lebanon. | Correspondents say such a tribunal is highly controversial in Lebanon. |
| Pro-Syrian politicians are against it and it cannot begin to be set up until the Lebanese parliament votes for it. | Pro-Syrian politicians are against it and it cannot begin to be set up until the Lebanese parliament votes for it. |
| In 2005, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon following 29 years of military and political rule over its smaller neighbour, after massive international pressure following the assassination of Mr Hariri. | In 2005, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon following 29 years of military and political rule over its smaller neighbour, after massive international pressure following the assassination of Mr Hariri. |
| A recent UN report implicated Syria in the death, although Syria has denied involvement. | A recent UN report implicated Syria in the death, although Syria has denied involvement. |