Lebanon in mourning: Independence Day celebrations off
Country's 63rd Independence Day celebrations planned for Wednesday cancelled following murder of Minister Gemayel. Newspapers point accusing finger at Damascus: Culprit is same culprit, victim is same victim'
Various newspapers, including Hariri family owned al-Mustaqbal, pointed the finger at Damascus for the assassination. “The culprit is the same culprit; the murderous terrorist regime in Damascus. The victim is the same victim; the independent, democratic, and stable Lebanon,” was written in al-Mustaqbal.
Minister Gemayel with grandfather, founder of the Phalange Party (Caricature: al-Mustaqbal)
An announcement by the general administration of Lebanon’s presidency informed, “As a sign of mourning for the death of Minister Pierre Gemayel, it has been decided to cancel today’s reception at the presidential palace in Baabda palace to mark our 63rd independence day.”
The Lebanese army also cancelled the festive ceremony it had planned to mark the event.
Anti-Syrian newspapers in Lebanon directly attacked Syria and its allies in the country, such as Lebanese President Amil Lahoud.
“Bloody independence message: Pierre Gemayel slain,” was one headline in al-Mustaqbal, owned by Head of Lebanese parliament majority group Saad Hariri, whose father, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was also assassinated.
Lebanon at a crossroads (Photo: al-Quds al-Arabi)
Hariri blamed the Syrians for the assassination, and his newspaper repeated the accusation. “The means may have been changed but the executer remained the same. Explosive devices have been changed to gun shots, but the culprit is the same culprit and the victim is the same victim.”
Newspapers in Lebanon and the Arab world reported that three gunmen got out of their car, blocked the road so that Gemayel’s Audi could not pass, and opened fire with silenced automatic weapons.
The reports also said that a total of 24 bullets were shot at Gemayel. He was fatally wounded and died before reaching the Mar Yousef hospital in Beirut. According to the reports, Gemayel’s bodyguard was also killed, along with another citizen who witnessed the shooting.
London-based Arabic newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported that Gemayel feared for his children’s lives due to rising tensions in Lebanon, and asked his wife Patricia to take their children out of the country as early as last week.
“This is a difficult time and if we manage to get through the coming year safely, we’ll know we’ve passed the crisis,” Gemayel told his wife. However, he did not manage to get through the year and Lebanon is headed to an uncertain future and may be on the verge of civil war.
