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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lebanon government defies bombers | Lebanon government defies bombers |
| (5 days later) | |
| Lebanon's pro-Western government says it is determined to hold a presidential election, despite the assassination of another anti-Syrian politician. | Lebanon's pro-Western government says it is determined to hold a presidential election, despite the assassination of another anti-Syrian politician. |
| Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the killers of MP Antoine Ghanim would not be allowed to succeed in their aims. | Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the killers of MP Antoine Ghanim would not be allowed to succeed in their aims. |
| Syria has been accused of being behind the killing, but it denies involvement. | Syria has been accused of being behind the killing, but it denies involvement. |
| MPs are due to choose a new president next week. The killings of several anti-Syrian figures have left Lebanon's government with only a slim majority. | MPs are due to choose a new president next week. The killings of several anti-Syrian figures have left Lebanon's government with only a slim majority. |
| Banks, schools and government offices have been closed in Lebanon, as the country mourns Mr Ghanim, of the Maronite Phalange party. | Banks, schools and government offices have been closed in Lebanon, as the country mourns Mr Ghanim, of the Maronite Phalange party. |
| The education ministry said schools and universities would remain closed again on Friday, when a funeral would be held. | The education ministry said schools and universities would remain closed again on Friday, when a funeral would be held. |
| ANTOINE GHANIM Anti-Syrian Lebanese MP64-year-old lawyerMember of Maronite Christian Phalange partyElected deputy in 2000Re-elected in 2005 Assassination threatens poll Killing angers Mid-East press Views: Lebanese exasperated | ANTOINE GHANIM Anti-Syrian Lebanese MP64-year-old lawyerMember of Maronite Christian Phalange partyElected deputy in 2000Re-elected in 2005 Assassination threatens poll Killing angers Mid-East press Views: Lebanese exasperated |
| Mr Ghanim died with at least six others in a car bombing in the mainly Christian Sin al-Fil district on Wednesday. | Mr Ghanim died with at least six others in a car bombing in the mainly Christian Sin al-Fil district on Wednesday. |
| Mr Siniora said on Thursday: "The hand of terror will not win and will not succeed in subduing us and silencing us. | Mr Siniora said on Thursday: "The hand of terror will not win and will not succeed in subduing us and silencing us. |
| "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." |
| 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 next week's 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 next week's vote. |
| 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. |
| The country has been mired in an ongoing political crisis, with a deadlock between pro- and anti-Syrian factions in parliament. | 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' |
| 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 | 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 Iran 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. | Six other leading figures in Lebanon's anti-Syria movement have been killed since Rafik Hariri's assassination in 2005. |