Breaking News: Lebanese Cabinet Minister Assassinated

[Katana]

It was just announced that Pierre Gemayel, a Christian cabinet minister, was shot and killed in Lebanon. Some in the Lebanese government are accusing Syria of being behind it.

More to come...

:wackyno:

[Katana]

Here's a bit more info:

Linky (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15829846/)

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, his Phalange Party Voice of Lebanon radio station reported.

His fatal shooting will certainly heighten the political tension in Lebanon, where the leading Muslim Shiite party Hezbollah has threatened to topple the government if it does not get a bigger say in Cabinet decision making.

Gemayel was rushed to a nearby hospital seriously wounded, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. and Voice of Lebanon, the Phalange Party mouthpiece reported.

The party later announced that he was dead.

Gemayel, the minister of industry and son of former President Amin Gemayel, is a member of the Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, which is locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.

That's it so far.

[Darth Rotor]

It was just announced that Pierre Gemayel, a Christian cabinet minister, was shot and killed in Lebanon. Some in the Lebanese government are accusing Syria of being behind it.

More to come...

:wackyno:
I am guessing he is related to the Maronite Gemayel family, which included a president during the 1980's Lebanese civil war. Perhaps a grandson of the original Pierre Gemayel?

Legacy
Gemayel saw his younger son, Bachir Gemayel, elected President of Lebanon on August 23, 1982, only to be assassinated on September 14, nine days before his scheduled inauguration. Bachir's older brother, Amine Gemayel was elected to replace him. Pierre Gemayel himself initially stayed out of his son's government, but in early 1984, after participating in two conferences in Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland, aimed at ending the civil war and the occupation of the country by Syrian and Israeli troops (which had invaded the country in 1982), he agreed to serve once more in a Cabinet of National Unity. He was still in office when he died in Bikfaya, on 29 August 1984, aged 78 years.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gemayel"

DR

[Katana]

I am guessing he is related to the Maronite Gemayel family, which included a president during the 1980's Lebanese civil war. Perhaps a grandson of the original Pierre Gemayel?

Legacy


DR

I know. Isn't it awful? I don't blame him for hesitating to take on governmental responsibilities. Look what it brought his son...and now him.

[webfusion]

From wire services:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/790828.html
Pierre Gemayel Killed in Beirut.

This may be the spark that leads to a renewal of civil war in Lebanon.

[Darth Rotor]

From wire services:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/790828.html
Pierre Gemayel Killed in Beirut.

This may be the spark that leads to a renewal of civil war in Lebanon.

Already a thread on this. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=69093)

DR

[This Guy]

Already a thread on this -

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=69093

But Katana only beat you by a little bit :)

[fuelair]

And a political party named for finger (and toe) bones, what is that about??

[webfusion]

OK, fair enough, I missed her posting.

I'll transfer over to that already-in-progress discussion, thanks.

[webfusion]

Hezbollah is behind it, I'm guessing, more so than Syria. The Syrians already have enough finger-pointing to deflect from the Rafik Hariri incident.

Nasrallah wants to send his followers into the streets and topple the current Lebanon government.

Personally, I feel that this would be the perfect opportunity for Israel to bring forward good intelligence data which links Hezbollah to the assassination, and then just go ahead and target Nassrallah with a nice big IAF airstrike on wherever he happens to be now. That would provide the payback for the war this summer, and give the Christians of Lebanon a better sense of Israel being on their side (which Israel is).

[Darth Rotor]

Pro-Syrian Hezbollah and its allies are preparing to take to the streets to topple Siniora's government, which they accuse of being allied with the United States, arguing that it has lost its legitimacy since Shi'ite Muslims are no longer represented.

The depleted cabinet last week approved draft United Nations statutes for a tribunal to try the killers of former prime minister Rafik Hariri despite the resignation of the six pro-Syrian ministers.
"Lost its legitimacy" and "Shi'ite Muslims no longer represented."

Civil War for fifty, Alex. :(

DR

[webfusion]

Hariri's son, upon hearing the news, immediately implicated Syria, but he did so without knowing any specific details, and was just lashing out.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/790836.html

Israeli Foreign Minister Livni, in London, said:
It was not "new or top secret" that Syria was playing a "negative role" in Lebanon, said the Israeli minister, hinting at the possible Syrian involvement in the killing.

What I would like to see is a real bit of Lebanese detective work to discover who perpetrated this, and who sent them.

[Darth Rotor]

What I would like to see is a real bit of Lebanese detective work to discover who perpetrated this, and who sent them.
What I would like is a Ferrari arriving as a gift from Santa. :p

Which is more likely to happen?

DR

[zenith-nadir]

What I would like is a Ferrari arriving as a gift from Santa. :p

DR Have you seen the new Ferrari P4/5 (http://www.supercars.net/cars/3456.html)? All I gotta say is I am in love.

Back on topic...

So we have a string of assassinations of anti-Syrian political figures in Lebanon following the assassination of former anti-Syrian Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri? Gosh... I wonder who done it? :rolleyes:

[Dave1001]

Have you seen the new Ferrari P4/5 (http://www.supercars.net/cars/3456.html)? All I gotta say is I am in love.

Back on topic...

So we have a string of assassinations of anti-Syrian political figures in Lebanon following the assassination of former anti-Syrian Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri? Gosh... I wonder who done it? :rolleyes:

Webfusion is right. A fair and independent investigation is in order. Maybe it's Syria, but determination starts with the an investigatory process.

[zenith-nadir]

Webfusion is right. A fair and independent investigation is in order. Maybe it's Syria, but determination starts with the an investigatory process.I agree. Now who would want to assasinate several anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians? Hmmmmm... It's obvious, the zionists! ;)

[fuelair]

What I would like is a Ferrari arriving as a gift from Santa. :p

Which is more likely to happen?

DRHope you enjoy that new Ferrari!!!:) :) :)

[Darth Rotor]

Hope you enjoy that new Ferrari!!!:) :) :)
Can't afford the insurance, look for it on eBay. :D

DR