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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Thousands attend Beirut funeral | Thousands attend Beirut funeral |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands have gathered in the Lebanese capital for the funeral of leading anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel, who was killed on Tuesday. | Tens of thousands have gathered in the Lebanese capital for the funeral of leading anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel, who was killed on Tuesday. |
| His supporters had called for a large turnout at the service at 1100 GMT, and troops are deployed across Beirut. | His supporters had called for a large turnout at the service at 1100 GMT, and troops are deployed across Beirut. |
| 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 UN Security Council has agreed to a request from Lebanon to help to investigate the murder. | The UN Security Council has agreed to a request from Lebanon to help to investigate the murder. |
| The industry minister and Maronite Christian politician was shot in his car in a Christian area of Beirut. | The industry minister and Maronite Christian politician was shot in his car in a Christian area of Beirut. |
| 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. |
| The death or resignation of two more cabinet ministers would bring down the government. | 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' |
| Hundreds applauded as the 34-year-old's coffin was borne through his village of Bikfaya to Beirut. | Hundreds applauded as the 34-year-old's coffin was borne through his village of Bikfaya to Beirut. |
| 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 Press outrage at killing href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6176050.stm" class="">In pictures: Gemayel funeral | |
| Dozens of cars and buses 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 followed the cortege, waving the large white flags of the politician's right-wing Maronite Christian Phalange Party, and hooting their horns. |
| Main roads into Beirut were jammed with mourners' vehicles, where cars and buildings are draped with pictures of the politician. | Main roads into Beirut were jammed with mourners' vehicles, where cars and buildings are draped with pictures of the politician. |
| Posters have also appeared showing the face of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the slogan "Shove your civil war". | Posters have also appeared showing the face of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the slogan "Shove your civil war". |
| Speakers have been addressing the crowds as they wait for the cortege, and a BBC correspondent among them says the gathering feels like a political rally. | Speakers have been addressing the crowds as they wait for the cortege, and a BBC correspondent among them says the gathering feels like a political rally. |
| 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 Mr Gemayel's supporters have vowed to stage a show of public outrage. | 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 Mr Gemayel's supporters have vowed to stage a show of public outrage. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Tribunal | Tribunal |
| 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. |
| If we don't proceed with the operation of Lebanese law and the investigation and prosecution of these assassinations, then the terrorists will have won John Bolton,US ambassador to UN Lebanon: Key facts Lebanese voice concern | If we don't proceed with the operation of Lebanese law and the investigation and prosecution of these assassinations, then the terrorists will have won John Bolton,US ambassador to UN Lebanon: Key facts Lebanese voice concern |
| 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. |
| Mr Bush has not specifically blamed Iran or Syria for Mr Gemayel's murder but he has called for a full investigation to identify "those people and those forces" behind the killing. | Mr Bush has not specifically blamed Iran or Syria for Mr Gemayel's murder but he has called for a full investigation to identify "those people and those forces" behind the killing. |
| A recent UN report implicated Syria in Mr Hariri's death, although Syria has denied involvement. | A recent UN report implicated Syria in Mr Hariri's death, although Syria has denied involvement. |