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Lebanon mourns slain army chief Lebanon mourns slain army chief
(about 4 hours later)
Funeral ceremonies have taken place in Lebanon for Gen Francois al-Hajj, the army's head of operations who was assassinated on Wednesday.Funeral ceremonies have taken place in Lebanon for Gen Francois al-Hajj, the army's head of operations who was assassinated on Wednesday.
Politicians from both sides of the political divide attended the service, and an honour guard played sombre music as people lined the streets in tribute. Politicians from both sides of the political divide attended the service, and an honour guard played sombre music as people lined the streets in tribute. Gen Hajj was the latest in a series of Lebanese public figures to be murdered, but the first from the military.
Gen Hajj was the latest in a series of Lebanese public figures to be murdered, but the first from the military. The authorities have said three men are being questioned about the killing.
Three men are being questioned about the killing. The Lebanese Defence Minister, Elias Murr, has said the police investigation has generated "serious leads".
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. On Thursday, US President George W Bush warned Syria against interfering in Lebanon, but he did not accuse Damascus of involvement in the general's murder.
Military personnel were out in force for their commander's funeralMr Bush said Gen Hajj was "a supporter of Lebanon's independence and an opponent of Syria's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs". 'Blood message'
"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.
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.
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.Gen Hajj's coffin was taken from the mortuary to his family home in Beirut's eastern suburb of Baabda early on Friday.
Hundreds of 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. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7140104.stm">In pictures: Beirut blast class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7140724.stm">Bombing deepens anxieties class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7142014.stm">Media split on killing
Army chief Gen Michel Suleiman - seen as the most likely candidate for the vacant presidency - saluted before the coffin. Hundreds of local residents clapped and threw rose petals as his coffin, draped in the Lebanese flag, was carried by army officers through the town.
Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir led the service, which was also attended by politicians and foreign ambassadors. It was then moved to the Maronite cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, in the hills north of the capital, for a funeral mass that was attended by politicians from across the political divide, along with foreign diplomats.
A message from Pope Benedict XVI was read out, in which he deplored the "unjustified violence" and called on Lebanese politicians to reconcile. The mass was led by the Maronite patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, who deplored the continued killings and said Lebanon was living a nightmare.
Gen Hajj's body was then taken to southern Lebanon for burial in his family's home village. "It is not just about an officer, but about a nation thrown into the wilderness," he told mourners at the service.
"Assassinations have continued without mercy for three years and today, the hand of treachery has reached the army and its brave leaders," he added.
Gen Hajj had been tipped to become the next head of the armed forces.
Military personnel were out in force for their commander's funeral
The army's chief of staff, Maj Gen Shawki Masri, said that "blood messages", such as Gen Hajj's murder, were meant to weaken the foundations of Lebanon and called on the country's political and sectarian groups to work together.
"In unity, we will have the strength and we can achieve the impossible," he said.
A message from Pope Benedict XVI was also read out, in which he condemned the "unjustified violence" and called for reconciliation.
After the funeral, Gen Hajj's body was taken to southern Lebanon for burial in his family's home village of Rmeish, near the border with Israel.
A national day of mourning was also declared on Friday, with all schools and universities closed and flags flown at half mast.
Postponed votePostponed vote
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 killed in a car bomb attack in Baabda, close to the presidential palace and ministry of defence, on Wednesday morning.
Gen Hajj had been tipped to become head of the armyBut correspondents say it is questionable whether the militants would have the means to carry out such a precisely targeted attack. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said he believed the assassination was an attempt to disrupt efforts to solve the long-running problem of choosing a new president.
They say the attack could further destabilise Lebanon, which is embroiled in its worst political crisis since its long civil war ended in 1990. Gen Hajj had been tipped to become head of the army
While the pro-West governing bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree Gen Suleiman should succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse, the factions cannot agree on the formation of a new government. Gen Hajj had been tipped to take over as head of the armed forces if, as expected, its current chief, Gen Michel Suleiman, is elected to succeed former President Emile Lahoud to break a political impasse.
Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November, and on Monday lawmakers postponed the presidential vote for an eighth time. The pro-West governing bloc and pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, agree on Gen Suleiman's candidacy, but they cannot agree on how to amend the constitution to allow him to stand and on the make-up of a new government.
Mr Lahoud left office on 24 November, and earlier this week lawmakers postponed the presidential vote for an eighth time until Monday.
Gen Hajj was also chief of operations when the army fought Islamist militants from Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp near Tripoli earlier this year.
About 400 people, mainly militants and soldiers, died in the violence, and some 40,000 people were displaced.
However, correspondents say it is questionable whether the militants would have the means to carry out a targeted attack in such a high security area.
Critics have also blamed Syria for a number of the high-profile political assassinations in Lebanon in the past two years. Damascus has denied involvement in all them.