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Lebanon : Thousands gathered for Gemayel’s funeral
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-24-2006 08:43
An independent international investigation commission has began its probe into the assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister, Pierre Gemayel. This came after the UN Security Council approved a request by the Lebanese government to expand investigations beyond the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, to the recent assassination of Gemayel.
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Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese gathered to bid farewell to Pierre Gemayel, the slain Christian politician.
At the funeral was Gemayel's father, and also former Lebanese President, Amin Gemayel. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as well as many other officials and public figures were also in attendance.
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Gemayel's coffin, wrapped in the flag of his right wing Phalange Party, arrived from his hometown of Bikfaya. It was carried through crowds in downtown Beirut to St. George's Cathedral.
Amin Gemayel said there would be no rest until the killers were brought to justice.
Police estimate that some 800,000 people were at the rally and funeral.
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34-year-old Gemayel, a Christian leader in Lebanon and a member of the anti- Syrian parliament majority, was shot dead on Tuesday when his convoy was attacked on a street in Jedeide, about 15 kilometers northeast of Beirut.
He is the sixth high-profile anti-Syrian figure to be killed in Lebanon in two years. Others who have lost their lives include former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who died in a massive bomb blast in Beirut in February last year.
Editor:Sun Luying
