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Crowds mass for Lebanon memorials | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Thousands of people are gathering in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to mark three years since the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. | |
Meanwhile the funeral of Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh is to be held just a few miles away. | |
A huge security operation is under way in the city amid fears of clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian factions. | |
Correspondents say the events come at a potentially explosive time, with no president and no working parliament. | |
The country has been experiencing some of its worst internal violence since the assassination of Rafik Hariri plunged Lebanon into crisis three years ago. | The country has been experiencing some of its worst internal violence since the assassination of Rafik Hariri plunged Lebanon into crisis three years ago. |
His murder sparked massive domestic and international pressure, which forced Syria to withdraw its troops from neighbouring Lebanon after a presence of 29 years. | His murder sparked massive domestic and international pressure, which forced Syria to withdraw its troops from neighbouring Lebanon after a presence of 29 years. |
Notorious 'terror mastermind'Who are Hezbollah? | Notorious 'terror mastermind'Who are Hezbollah? |
Tens of thousands of Lebanese are expected to converge on Martyrs' Square in Beirut's city centre where Mr Hariri is buried. | Tens of thousands of Lebanese are expected to converge on Martyrs' Square in Beirut's city centre where Mr Hariri is buried. |
The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Beirut says in recent days the political rhetoric has been getting sharper on all sides - add into the mix heightened emotions following the killing of Imad Mughniyeh on Tuesday in a car bombing in the Syrian capital, Damascus. | The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Beirut says in recent days the political rhetoric has been getting sharper on all sides - add into the mix heightened emotions following the killing of Imad Mughniyeh on Tuesday in a car bombing in the Syrian capital, Damascus. |
His body is now back in Lebanon and a large crowd is also expected at his funeral in the Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. | His body is now back in Lebanon and a large crowd is also expected at his funeral in the Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. |
'Murderer and terrorist' | 'Murderer and terrorist' |
The US welcomed the killing of the Hezbollah commander implicated in numerous bomb attacks and a wave of hostage-taking in Lebanon in the 1980s. | The US welcomed the killing of the Hezbollah commander implicated in numerous bomb attacks and a wave of hostage-taking in Lebanon in the 1980s. |
A US state department spokesman said the world would be a "better place" without Imad Mughniyeh, whom he called a "mass murderer and a terrorist". | A US state department spokesman said the world would be a "better place" without Imad Mughniyeh, whom he called a "mass murderer and a terrorist". |
IMAD MUGHNIYEH Born southern Lebanon 1962Indicted for 1985 hijack of TWA airlinerAccused of involvement in 1990s Buenos Aires bombingsOn FBI Most Wanted list since 2001 | IMAD MUGHNIYEH Born southern Lebanon 1962Indicted for 1985 hijack of TWA airlinerAccused of involvement in 1990s Buenos Aires bombingsOn FBI Most Wanted list since 2001 |
Hezbollah and Iran have blamed Israel for his killing, but it has denied any involvement. | Hezbollah and Iran have blamed Israel for his killing, but it has denied any involvement. |
The Syrian government also condemned the "cowardly terrorist act" and said investigations were still under way to find the perpetrators. | The Syrian government also condemned the "cowardly terrorist act" and said investigations were still under way to find the perpetrators. |
Mughniyeh, in his late 40s, had been variously described as special operations or intelligence chief of Hezbollah's secretive military wing, the Islamic Resistance. | Mughniyeh, in his late 40s, had been variously described as special operations or intelligence chief of Hezbollah's secretive military wing, the Islamic Resistance. |
He had been top of the US Most Wanted list until he was replaced by Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders following the 11 September 2001 attacks. | He had been top of the US Most Wanted list until he was replaced by Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders following the 11 September 2001 attacks. |
Analysts say his death will be a significant blow to Hezbollah, which battled Israel in the 2006 Lebanon war, with help from its Iranian and Syrian backers. | Analysts say his death will be a significant blow to Hezbollah, which battled Israel in the 2006 Lebanon war, with help from its Iranian and Syrian backers. |
Hezbollah was founded in 1982 by a group of Shia Muslim clerics after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It has emerged in recent years as a major political and military force in Lebanon, after military successes against Israel. | Hezbollah was founded in 1982 by a group of Shia Muslim clerics after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It has emerged in recent years as a major political and military force in Lebanon, after military successes against Israel. |