Lebanon lurched closer to a new round of sectarian blood-letting yesterday with the assassination of industry minister Pierre Gemayel, a member of the country's most powerful Christian family and a leading opponent of Syrian influence.
The killing shook Lebanon's already beleaguered government and sent tremors across the Middle East, further complicating attempts to find a regional solution to the Iraq war. The Bush administration, which has been under rising pressure to negotiate with Syria and Iran, yesterday hinted at the responsibility of both countries' governments, accusing them of trying to destabilise Lebanon.
Speaking at an air force base in Hawaii, US president George Bush called for a full investigation and pledged US support for the Lebanese government leaders and their efforts "to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies, to foment instability and violence in that important country".
In Beirut, Maronite Christian crowds tried to march on the residence of President Émile Lahoud, whom they revile for his ties to Damascus. Clashes also broke out between Christians and the police near the hospital where Mr Gemayel's body was taken after he was shot in his car on a Beirut street.
Yesterday's killing was the latest in a string of assassinations of anti-Syrian politicians and journalists, which many fear may be the opening salvos in a new cycle of political violence.
Mr Gemayel's car was rammed before a gunman walked up and opened fire at close range, hitting him in the head and torso and wounding his bodyguards.
The assassination came at a time of high political tension. Mr Gemayel and other government ministers had just given their approval for an international tribunal to judge those responsible for an earlier assassination, the February 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri - a killing in which Syrian officials have been implicated by a UN investigation.
In the days preceding this latest death, pro-Syrian politicians had walked out of the government led by Fouad Siniora, while Hizbullah, a radical Shia movement backed by Syria and Iran, was threatening street protests.
Saad Hariri, son of the murdered prime minister and leader of the anti-Syrian coalition, said "the hands of Syria are all over the place" in Mr Gemayel's assassination, and argued Damascus was prepared to do anything to stop a tribunal being established. Syrian troops left Lebanon under a UN-negotiated deal after the Hariri assassination, but Damascus is still thought to wield considerable influence through its allies and intelligence service.- (Guardian service)