Lebanese Cabinet Minister Assassinated


Pierre Gemayel Jr., a member of the anti-Syrian coalition in the Lebanese parliament, was shot and killed this morning in Beirut. He was serving in the government as the minister for industry.

Gemayel's uncle, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated in 1982 by a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, shortly before he was to take office as the President of Lebanon.

The Lebanese government has been in the process of setting up a UN mandated inquiry into the assasination last year of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, in which Syria has been implicated.

Syrian allies in parliament, led by Hezbollah, attempted unsuccessfully to kill the inquiry by bringing down the government with the resignations earlier this month of six pro Syrian cabinet ministers.

By way of Oliver Kamm, whose summary of his remarks in a debate with Clare Short are well worth reading:

Debating policy for the Middle East





Posted: Tue - November 21, 2006 at 12:55 PM          

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