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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Day of mourning for Lebanese MP | Day of mourning for Lebanese MP |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Banks, schools and government offices are closed in Lebanon, as the country mourns an anti-Syrian MP who was killed in a car bombing in the capital Beirut. | Banks, schools and government offices are closed in Lebanon, as the country mourns an anti-Syrian MP who was killed in a car bombing in the capital Beirut. |
| Antoine Ghanim, of the Maronite Phalange party, died with at least six others in the blast in the mainly Christian Sin al-Fil district. | Antoine Ghanim, of the Maronite Phalange party, died with at least six others in the blast in the mainly Christian Sin al-Fil district. |
| World leaders have condemned the assassination, while several Lebanese politicians blamed Syria for the bomb. | World leaders have condemned the assassination, while several Lebanese politicians blamed Syria for the bomb. |
| Lebanon is poised to choose a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud. | Lebanon is poised to choose a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud. |
| But the country has been mired in an ongoing political crisis, with a deadlock between pro- and anti-Syrian factions in parliament. | But the country has been mired in an ongoing political crisis, with a deadlock between pro- and anti-Syrian factions in parliament. |
| 'Hand of terror' | 'Hand of terror' |
| Mr Ghanim's Phalange party called for a strike and day of mourning on Thursday. | Mr Ghanim's Phalange party called for a strike and day of mourning on Thursday. |
| ANTOINE GHANIM Anti-Syrian Lebanese MP64-year-old lawyerMember of Maronite Christian Phalange partyElected deputy in 2000Re-elected in 2005 Killing angers Mid-East press class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7004915.stm">Views: Lebanese exasperated | |
| The education ministry said schools and universities would remain closed again on Friday, when a funeral would be held for Mr Ghanim. | The education ministry said schools and universities would remain closed again on Friday, when a funeral would be held for Mr Ghanim. |
| Prime Minister Fouad Siniora vowed to press ahead with the presidential vote, saying his country would not be silenced. | Prime Minister Fouad Siniora vowed to press ahead with the presidential vote, saying his country would not be silenced. |
| He has called for a UN investigation into the assassination of Mr Ghanim, who had returned to Beirut just a few days before his death to take part in the vote. | He has called for a UN investigation into the assassination of Mr Ghanim, who had returned to Beirut just a few days before his death to take part in the vote. |
| "The hand of terror will not win and will not succeed in subduing us and silencing us," Mr Siniora said. | "The hand of terror will not win and will not succeed in subduing us and silencing us," Mr Siniora said. |
| "The Lebanese will not retreat and will have a new president elected by lawmakers, no matter how big the conspiracy was." | "The Lebanese will not retreat and will have a new president elected by lawmakers, no matter how big the conspiracy was." |
| Lebanon's anti-Syrian ruling coalition and its opposition are still making positive noises about the need for dialogue and understanding, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. | Lebanon's anti-Syrian ruling coalition and its opposition are still making positive noises about the need for dialogue and understanding, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. |
| But the assassination makes it even less likely that a deal will be reached on a new president before Tuesday's crucial vote, our correspondent says. | But the assassination makes it even less likely that a deal will be reached on a new president before Tuesday's crucial vote, our correspondent says. |
| Syrian denials | Syrian denials |
| Syria said it had no involvement in the attack, calling it a "criminal act" that undermined hopes for Lebanese national reconciliation. | Syria said it had no involvement in the attack, calling it a "criminal act" that undermined hopes for Lebanese national reconciliation. |
| LEBANESE ASSASSINATIONS Feb 2005: Ex-PM Rafik HaririApril 2005: MP Bassel FleihanJune 2005: Anti-Syria journalist Samir KassirJune 2005: Ex-Communist leader George HawiDec 2005: Anti-Syria MP Gebran TueniNov 2006: Industry Minister Pierre GemayelJune 2007: Anti-Syria MP Walid EidoSep 2007: Anti-Syria MP Antoine Ghanim | |
| But some Lebanese politicians were quick to blame Damascus for the blast. | But some Lebanese politicians were quick to blame Damascus for the blast. |
| Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister who was assassinated in a bomb attack in 2005, said responsibility lay with the "cowardly regime" of Syria. | Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister who was assassinated in a bomb attack in 2005, said responsibility lay with the "cowardly regime" of Syria. |
| Even pro-Syrian Mr Lahoud said it was no coincidence someone was killed whenever there were positive developments in Lebanon. | Even pro-Syrian Mr Lahoud said it was no coincidence someone was killed whenever there were positive developments in Lebanon. |
| US President George W Bush denounced the "horrific assassination", which he described as attempts by Syria and Lebanon to destabilise Lebanon. | US President George W Bush denounced the "horrific assassination", which he described as attempts by Syria and Lebanon to destabilise Lebanon. |
| The attack has also been criticised by the UK, the EU, Russia, China, France and Italy. | The attack has also been criticised by the UK, the EU, Russia, China, France and Italy. |
| Six other leading figures in Lebanon's anti-Syria movement have been killed since Rafik Hariri's assassination in 2005. | |
| Syria has denied involvement in any of the killings. | Syria has denied involvement in any of the killings. |