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Thousands of Lebanese mourners attend Wissam al-Hassan funeral Funeral of security official killed in Beirut car bomb turns violent
(about 2 hours later)
Soldiers carried two flag-draped coffins through a central Beirut square packed with thousands of Lebanese mourners for Sunday's funeral of a top intelligence official and his bodyguard. The men were killed in a massive car bombing that many blame on the regime in neighbouring Syria. The funeral for a top Lebanese security official has turned violent as protesters demanding the resignation of the government poured out into the streets around central Beirut amid teargas, rock throwing and the occasional burst of gunfire by security forces.
Soldiers set up road blocks and cordoned off Martyrs' Square, where the coffins of Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan and his bodyguard were brought for burial. Lebanon's political opposition had called upon protesters to use the funeral of General Wissam al-Hassan, who died in a car bomb assassination on Friday afternoon in central Beirut, as an opportunity to protest at the current government's perceived support for the Syrian regime.
"We came for Lebanon's future to show that we will not be scared," said Arama Fakhouri, an interior designer from Beirut in the cheering crowd. Many people were shouting that al-Hassan was a martyr who was struck down while trying to protect Lebanon. After a number of speeches by opposition politicians that directly accused Syria of murdering Hassan for investigating a series of violent plots and assassinations against opposition members, protesters turned their fury on the nearby office of the prime minister, Najib Mikati. Mikati tendered his resignation to the president, Michel Sleiman, on Saturday but agreed to stay in office until a national unity government could be formed.
Al-Hassan, 47, was a powerful opponent of Syria in Lebanon. He headed an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of former information inister Michel Samaha, a Lebanese politician who was one of Syria's most loyal allies in Lebanon. He was among eight people killed in the attack on Friday. As protesters tried to scale a series of fences and barbed wire emplacements surrounding the building, security forces resorted to teargas and some sporadic gunfire to protect the government building.
Soldiers had earlier carried two flag-draped coffins carrying Hassan and his bodyguard through Martyrs' Square, which was packed with thousands of Lebanese mourners.
"We came for Lebanon's future to show that we will not be scared," said Arama Fakhouri, an interior designer from Beirut in the cheering crowd. Many people were shouting that Hassan was a martyr who was struck down while trying to protect Lebanon.
Hassan, 47, was a powerful opponent of Syria in Lebanon. He headed an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of the former information minister Michel Samaha, a Lebanese politician who was one of Syria's most loyal allies in Lebanon. He was among eight people killed in the attack on Friday.
"He was killed while he was defending his country," said Samer al-Hirri, who travelled from northern Lebanon to attend the funeral."He was killed while he was defending his country," said Samer al-Hirri, who travelled from northern Lebanon to attend the funeral.
Ahead of the burial, there was a memorial ceremony attended by government officials and al-Hassan's wife Anna, his two sons, Majd and Mazen, and his parents. Before the burial, there was a memorial ceremony attended by government officials and Hassan's wife, Anna, his two sons, Majd and Mazen, and his parents.
Even before Friday's bombing, the civil war in neighbouring Syria had set off violence in Lebanon and deepened tensions between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The attack heightened fears that Lebanon could easily plunge back into cycles of sectarian violence and reprisal that have haunted it for decades.Even before Friday's bombing, the civil war in neighbouring Syria had set off violence in Lebanon and deepened tensions between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The attack heightened fears that Lebanon could easily plunge back into cycles of sectarian violence and reprisal that have haunted it for decades.
France's foreign minister said it was likely that Assad's government had a hand in the assassination. Laurent Fabius told Europe1 radio that while it was not fully clear who was behind the attack, it was "probable" that Syria played a role.France's foreign minister said it was likely that Assad's government had a hand in the assassination. Laurent Fabius told Europe1 radio that while it was not fully clear who was behind the attack, it was "probable" that Syria played a role.
"Everything suggests that it's an extension of the Syrian tragedy," he said."Everything suggests that it's an extension of the Syrian tragedy," he said.
Dozens of anti-Syrian protesters erected eight tents near the cabinet headquarters in central Beirut, saying they will stay until prime minister Najib Mikati's government, which is dominated by the Shia militant group Hezbollah and its allies, resigns. Hezbollah is Syria's most powerful ally in Lebanon, which for much of the past 30 years has lived under Syrian military and political domination. Dozens of anti-Syrian protesters erected eight tents near the cabinet headquarters in central Beirut, saying they would stay until Mikati's government, which is dominated by the Shia militant group Hezbollah and its allies, resigned. Hezbollah is Syria's most powerful ally in Lebanon, which for much of the past 30 years has lived under Syrian military and political domination.
"The Syrian regime started a war against us and we will fight this battle until the end," said protester Anthony Labaki, a 24-year-old physiotherapist who is a member of the rightwing Phalange party. He said the protesters will not leave the area until Mikati's government resigns and those behind al-Hassan's killing are uncovered. "The Syrian regime started a war against us and we will fight this battle until the end," said a protester, Anthony Labaki, a 24-year-old physiotherapist who is a member of the rightwing Phalange party.
Syria's hold on Lebanon began to slip in 2005, when former prime minister Rafik Hariri, an opponent of Syria, was assassinated in truck bomb along Beirut's Mediterranean waterfront. Syria denied any role. But broad public outrage in Lebanon expressed in massive street protests forced Damascus to withdraw its tens of thousands of troops from the country. Syria's hold on Lebanon began to slip in 2005, when the former prime minister Rafik Hariri, an opponent of Syria, was assassinated in truck bomb along Beirut's Mediterranean waterfront. Syria denied any role. But broad public outrage in Lebanon expressed in massive street protests forced Damascus to withdraw its tens of thousands of troops from the country.
For years after the pullouts, there was a string of attacks on anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon without any trials for those responsible. Assad has managed to maintain his influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah and other allies.For years after the pullouts, there was a string of attacks on anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon without any trials for those responsible. Assad has managed to maintain his influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah and other allies.
Samaha, the former minister arrested in al-Hassan's investigation, remains in custody. He is accused of plotting a wave of attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest. Samaha, the former minister arrested in Hassan's investigation, remains in custody. He is accused of plotting a wave of attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest.
Syrian Brigadier General Ali Mamlouk, one of Assad's most senior aides, was indicted in absentia in the August sweep that saw Samaha arrested. Samaha's arrest was an embarrassing blow to Syria, which has long acted with impunity in Lebanon. The Syrian Brigadier General Ali Mamlouk, one of Assad's most senior aides, was indicted in absentia in the August sweep that saw Samaha arrested. Samaha's arrest was an embarrassing blow to Syria, which has long acted with impunity in Lebanon.
The car bombing struck Beirut's mainly Christian Achrafieh district and also wounded dozens of people, including children.The car bombing struck Beirut's mainly Christian Achrafieh district and also wounded dozens of people, including children.
Al-Hassan will be buried in Beirut's Martyrs' Square next to Hariri. Security was tight as thousands of people headed to the capital from around the country to attend the funeral. Security was tight around Martyrs' Square on Sunday, as police officers and soldiers cordoned off the square, searching people trying to enter and barring vehicles. Giant posters of Hassan were set up around Beirut before the funeral, calling him a "martyr of sovereignty and independence".
Al-Hassan's body will first be taken to police headquarters for an official procession to the square.
Policemen and soldiers cordoned off the square, searching people trying to enter and barring vehicles. Giant posters of al-Hassan were set up around Beirut ahead of the funeral, calling him a "martyr of sovereignty and independence".
On Saturday, Mikati linked the bombing to the Samaha case.On Saturday, Mikati linked the bombing to the Samaha case.
"I don't want to prejudge the investigation, but in fact we cannot separate yesterday's crime from the revelation of the explosions that could have happened," he said."I don't want to prejudge the investigation, but in fact we cannot separate yesterday's crime from the revelation of the explosions that could have happened," he said.
Mikati, who opponents say is too close to Syria and Hezbollah, offered to resign after the bombing. But President Michel Suleiman asked him to stay so as not to add to the instability. Many of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims have backed Syria's mainly Sunni rebels, while Shia Muslims have tended to back Assad. Assad, like many who dominate his regime, is a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.
Many of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims have backed Syria's mainly Sunni rebels, while Shia Muslims have tended to back Assad. Assad, like many who dominate his regime is a member of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam. Hassan was a Sunni who challenged Syria and Hezbollah.
Al-Hassan was a Sunni who challenged Syria and Hezbollah.