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Lebanon mourns slain army chief | Lebanon mourns slain army chief |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Funeral ceremonies for Gen Francois al-Hajj, the army's head of operations who was assassinated on Wednesday, have begun in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. | Funeral ceremonies for Gen Francois al-Hajj, the army's head of operations who was assassinated on Wednesday, have begun in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. |
An honour guard accompanied Gen Hajj's casket as it arrived at his home in a Beirut suburb, as people lined the streets and schools and shops closed. | |
Gen Hajj was the latest in a series of Lebanese public figures to be murdered, but the first from the military. | |
Three men are being questioned about the killing. | Three men are being questioned about the killing. |
Earlier, US President George W Bush warned Syria against interfering in Lebanon, but he did not accuse it of involvement in the general's murder. | |
Mr Bush said Gen Hajj was "a supporter of Lebanon's independence and an opponent of Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs". | Mr Bush said Gen Hajj was "a supporter of Lebanon's independence and an opponent of Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs". |
"As Lebanon seeks to select a president democratically and in accordance with its constitution, interference by the Syrian regime and its allies, aimed at intimidating the Lebanese people, must end," he said. | "As Lebanon seeks to select a president democratically and in accordance with its constitution, interference by the Syrian regime and its allies, aimed at intimidating the Lebanese people, must end," he said. |
Critics have blamed Syria for a number of high-profile political assassinations in Lebanon in the past two years. Damascus has denied involvement. | Critics have blamed Syria for a number of high-profile political assassinations in Lebanon in the past two years. Damascus has denied involvement. |
Day of mourning | Day of mourning |
Lebanon is observing a day of national mourning, amid the continuing political crisis in which the crippled parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition has refused to recognise the government for more than a year. | Lebanon is observing a day of national mourning, amid the continuing political crisis in which the crippled parliament has failed to elect a president and the opposition has refused to recognise the government for more than a year. |
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 GhanimDec 2007: Army Gen Francois al-Hajj In pictures: Beirut blastBombing deepens anxietiesMedia split on killing | 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 GhanimDec 2007: Army Gen Francois al-Hajj In pictures: Beirut blastBombing deepens anxietiesMedia split on killing |
Gen Hajj's coffin was taken from the mortuary to his family home in Beirut's eastern suburb of Baabda early on Friday. | |
Local residents clapped and threw rose petals as the coffin was carried by soldiers. His body was then moved to a Maronite cathedral for an official funeral Mass. | |
He was to be buried later in southern Lebanon in his family's home village. | |
Gen Hajj was chief of operations when Lebanon's army fought Islamic militants from Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp earlier this year. | Gen Hajj was chief of operations when Lebanon's army fought Islamic militants from Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp earlier this year. |
But correspondents say it is questionable whether the militants would have the means to carry out such a precisely targeted attack. | But correspondents say it is questionable whether the militants would have the means to carry out such a precisely targeted attack. |
They say the attack could further destabilise Lebanon, which is embroiled in its worst political crisis since its long civil war ended in 1990. | They say the attack could further destabilise Lebanon, which is embroiled in its worst political crisis since its long civil war ended in 1990. |
While the pro-West governing bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree Gen Michel Suleiman should succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse, the factions cannot agree on the formation of a new government. | While the pro-West governing bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree Gen Michel Suleiman should succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse, the factions cannot agree on the formation of a new government. |
Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November, and on Monday lawmakers postponed the presidential vote for an eighth time. | Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November, and on Monday lawmakers postponed the presidential vote for an eighth time. |