(Middle East Times, with agency dispatches) By SANA ABDALLAH , Rival political leaders and tens of thousands of their supporters ignored heavy rains in Beirut Thursday to mark two assassinations with fiery speeches that are expected to deepen divisions in Lebanon and sharpen bitterness with Israel.
Thousands thronged Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut to commemorate the third anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination in a massive explosion that marked the start of the worst crisis to besiege Lebanon since the end in 1990 of its 15-year civil war.
In the Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut, thousands of other mourners converged under umbrellas to bury Imad Mughnieh, a top Hezbollah commander who was assassinated in a car bombing in Damascus Tuesday night. While some of the pro-Western March 14 ruling coalition leaders at Martyrs’ Square lashed out at the Syrian and Iranian backers, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki were attending the funeral ceremony for Mughnieh in the southern suburbs. Accusing Israel for the assassination of Mughnieh, and by doing so taking its battle with Hezbollah outside Lebanon, Nasrallah vowed to fight back anywhere. Addressing the Israelis, he said: "O Zionists, if you want this kind of open war, then let the whole world listen: Let this be open war." Israel has denied involvement in the car bomb that killed Mughnieh, but welcomed his assassination. Middle East analysts had anticipated that the place of the killing and method used on Mughnieh, who had managed to operate underground for more than 20 years, would prompt Hezbollah to expand its confrontation with Israel beyond Lebanon’s borders. The Shiite guerilla group was widely hailed in the Arab world for "defeating" Israel in its 34-day war on Lebanon in summer 2006, and its guerillas were credited for ending Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.
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In his speech, Nasrallah insisted that the assassination made his organization stronger and more determined, and he stressed that tens of thousands of guerillas were ready to fight Israel. The 2006 war was not over, Nasrallah said, because no ceasefire has been declared.
"The blood of Imad Mughnieh will contribute to the disappearance of the Jewish state," he warned.
Earlier, Mottaki delivered a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the death of Mughnieh, in which he "congratulated" his family and the Lebanese people for the "martyrdom."
Referring to his domestic political rivals, the pro-Western ruling alliance, Nasrallah said: "[Lebanon] will never be Israeli. It will never be American."
Responding to some of the accusations made hours earlier at Hariri’s memorial rally, Nasrallah warned against fighting a proxy war for the United States and Israel and against inciting sedition in Lebanon.
He added that if any of the anti-Syrian leaders, "wants a divorce, let them leave Lebanon and go to their masters in Washington and Tel Aviv … because this country will remain a place for national unity, civil peace, co-existence, a country of resistance and national dignity."
Earlier, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt of the Socialist Progressive Party and his ally Samir Geagea of the Christian Lebanese Forces told thousands of supporters to reject what they said was Syrian and Iranian influence on their Lebanese opposition allies to obstruct the election of a president.
The country has been without a president since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud stepped down in November at the end of his term and the two camps began bickering over the form of the new government.
Jumblatt and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri indirectly accused Syria of Mughnieh’s assassination, saying the Syrian regime of Bashar Assad was doing all it could to incite strife and stop the country from moving forward.
Hariri told the cheering masses that came to commemorate his father’s murder that they had gathered at Martyrs’ Square "to say we want a president. And we say to you we will have a president."
"The enemies of Lebanon are still trying to assassinate the Lebanese people and the whole of Lebanon, just as the Israeli enemy tried to assassinate the Lebanese people during the July 2006 war," he added, without naming those enemies.
The pro-Western camp blames Syria, which withdrew its forces from Lebanon in April 2005 following intensive Lebanese and international pressure on it, for Rafik Hariri’s killing and a wave of assassinations against politicians and journalists since.
Assuming a more conciliatory tone than his allies at the rally, Hariri extended his hand to all his "partners" in the opposition to come together in unity to pursue the legacy of his late father.
Lebanese analysts say the chasm dividing the two camps is anything but narrowing as each side holds to its conditions on electing army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.
As the stalemate lengthens, fear is growing that the only way to prevent domestic rivalry from sparking another civil war is a new military confrontation with Israel.
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 36 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 40 minutes ago
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Saad Hariri, Parliament’s majority leader, right, former President Amin Gemayel, center, and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, left, wave to supporters marking the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination.
(AP
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks through al Manar television during the funeral of assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 48 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah chief deputy Sheikh Naim Kassem (L) and Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attend the funeral of assassinated Hezbollah commander Imad Moughniyah in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Issam Kobeisy (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Issam Kobeisy (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
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Women carry posters of Lebanon‘s Hezbollah assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON) - Reuters via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 31 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah chief deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem (C) prays with clerics beside the coffin of assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/ Sharif Karim (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 6:57 AM
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A woman throws rice at the coffin of Lebanon‘s Hezbollah’s assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 24 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah carry the coffin of their assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah during his funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened Israel with "open war" after accusing the Jewish state of killing Moughniyah. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 45 minutes ago
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Lebanon‘s anti-Syria parliament majority leader Saad al-Hariri speaks behind a bullet proof glass as the national flag is reflected on it during a mass rally to mark the third anniversary of the killing of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, in Beirut February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 4:46 AM
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Fayez Moughniyah (C, in glasses), father of Lebanon‘s Hezbollah assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah, receives condolences from guerrillas during his son’s funeral in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Lebanon‘s Hezbollah holds a mass funeral for Imad Moughniyah, one of the United States’ most wanted men, in Beirut on Thursday amid calls for revenge against its sworn enemy Israel. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 4:07 AM
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Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian Parliament Majority leader Saad al-Hariri (L) smiles to crowds of supporters as he arrives for his speech during a mass rally to mark the third anniversary of the killing of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, in Beirut February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 4:15 AM
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A poster of assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri (L) and his son Saad hangs from a building in Beirut. Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters converged on central Beirut for the third anniversary of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri’s assassination, just miles from where Lebanon‘s opposition group Hezbollah prepared to bury a top commander slain by a car bomb.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:19 AM
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Lebanese demonstrators wave their national flags as they ride on top of a van from Tripoli to a mass rally in Beirut. Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters converged on central Beirut for the third anniversary of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri’s assassination, just miles from where Lebanon‘s opposition group Hezbollah prepared to bury a top commander slain by a car bomb.(AFP)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:19 AM
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Waving the national flag Lebanese gather under the rain in Beirut’s Martyr’s square. Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters converged on central Beirut for the third anniversary of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri’s assassination, just miles from where Lebanon‘s opposition group Hezbollah prepared to bury a top commander slain by a car bomb.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:21 AM
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah salute during the funeral of assassinated commander Imad Moughniyah, in Beirut’s suburbs February 14, 2008. Lebanon‘s Hezbollah holds a mass funeral for Moughniyah, one of the United States’ most wanted men, in Beirut on Thursday amid calls for revenge against its sworn enemy Israel. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi (LEBANON)
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Lebanon‘s Hezbollah seniors Sheikh Naim Kassem (L), Fayez Moughniyeh (C), father of slain Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyeh, and Sayyed Hisham Safeyiddine (R) stand in a line to receive condolences in Beirut suburbs February 13, 2008. Imad Moughniyeh, on the United States’ most wanted list for attacks on Israeli and Western targets, was killed by a bomb in Damascus, the Lebanese group said on Wednesday. REUTERS/ Khalil Hassan (LEBANON)
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Hezbollah members wave the group’s flag at the top of a mosque at the village Tayr Diba in southern Lebanon February 13, 2008. Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyah, on the United States’ most wanted list for attacks on Israeli and Western targets, was killed by a bomb in Damascus, the Lebanese group said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON)
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Feb 13 7:04 AM
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A poster of assasinated Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and his son Saad (top) hangs on a street of Beirut. US President George W. Bush expressed concern on Tuesday at what he said were efforts by Iran and Syria to undermine crisis-hit Lebanon‘s institutions through "violence and intimidation."(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 12 11:29 AM
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The martyrs statue next to the al-Amin mosque, a Beirut landmark where assasinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri is buried. Thousands of pro-government supporters gathered in central Beirut on Thursday to mark the third anniversary of Hariri’s assassination amid a deepening political crisis(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:07 AM
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A Lebanese flag is stretched on a lot in downtown Beirut next to the Al-Amin mosque, a Beirut landmark where assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri is buried. Thousands of pro-government supporters gathered in central Beirut on Thursday to mark the third anniversary of Hariri’s assassination amid a deepening political crisis(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:07 AM
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Uniformed form the Shiite Hezbollah movement file past the coffin (unseen) and image of assassinated Hezbollah commander Imad Mughnieh in Beirut. Lebanon‘s Hezbollah opposition chief Hassan Nasrallah declared "open war" on Israel while hundreds of thousands of Lebanese filled the streets of central Beirut in support of the government.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP via Yahoo! News – 46 minutes ago
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Lebanese pro-government supporters gather in central Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 1 minute ago
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Thousands of people gather in front of a huge Lebanese flag to commemorate the third anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Beirut. Lebanon‘s Hezbollah opposition chief Hassan Nasrallah declared "open war" on Israel while hundreds of thousands of Lebanese filled the streets of central Beirut in support of the government.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
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Lebanese pro-government supporters gather in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
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Lebanese pro-government supporters hold flags at Martyr’s Square in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings, Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
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Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of Hezbollah top commander Imad Mughniyeh during his funeral procession at the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief on Thursday vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad after accusing Israel of taking the fight beyond Lebanese borders by assassinating militant commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
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A Lebanese pro-government supporter holds a picture of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during a rally marking the third anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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A Lebanese Shiite woman, cries as she attends with other women the funeral procession of the slain top Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria, in the Shiite suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday Feb. 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief on Thursday vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad after accusing Israel of taking the fight beyond Lebanese borders by assassinating militant commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
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Hezbollah , carry the coffin of their slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, draped in a Hezbollah flag, who was killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria, during his funeral procession in the Shiite suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday Feb. 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief on Thursday vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad after accusing Israel of taking the fight beyond
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Hezbollah supporters march behind the coffin of Imad Mughniyeh, left, the group’s former security chief during his funeral procession below posters of Hezbollah’s assassinated leaders in south Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief on Thursday vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad after accusing Israel of taking the fight beyond Lebanese borders by assassinating militant commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
AP via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 42 minutes ago
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Lebanese pro-government supporters hold umbrellas as they gather in the rain around the Martyr’s Statue in downtown Beirut Lebanon to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese turned out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Ahmad Omar)
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Lebanese pro-government stomp on an image of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as people gather in Beirut’s Martyr’s square. Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters converged on central Beirut for the third anniversary of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri’s assassination, just miles from where Lebanon‘s opposition group Hezbollah prepared to bury a top commander slain by a car bomb.(AFP/Marwan Naamani)
AFP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:19 AM
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Waving the national flag Lebanese gather under the rain in Beirut’s Martyr’s square. Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters converged on central Beirut for the third anniversary of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri’s assassination, just miles from where Lebanon‘s opposition group Hezbollah prepared to bury a top commander slain by a car bomb.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
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Hezbollah supporters hold umbrellas as it rains during the funeral procession of Imad Mughniyeh, the group’s former security chief in a hall in the Roueiss neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Hezbollah’s chief on Thursday vowed to retaliate against Israeli targets abroad after accusing Israel of taking the fight beyond Lebanese borders by assassinating militant commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
AP via Yahoo! News – 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
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Lebanese police stand guard in front of a picture showing cars burning following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, during a pro-government rally marking the third anniversary of Hariri’s assassination in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
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Lebanese pro-government supporters wave flags behind a noose hung to represent the international tribunal into Rafik Hariri’s death during a demonstration marking the third anniversary of his assassination in downtown Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings : Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
AP via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 37 minutes ago
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Lebanese pro-government supporters gather in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings — Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP via Yahoo! News – Feb 14 2:59 AM
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Supporters of the anti-Syrian coalition carry banners and wave Lebanese flags during a mass rally to mark the third anniversary of the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2008. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
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A Lebanese pro-government man, holds a portrait showing Lebanese Christian leader Michel Aoun with an Arabic sentence which reads: ‘The Iranian Ambassador in Rabyeh,’ Rabyeh is a Christian area east of Beirut, during a ceremony marking the third anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday Feb. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla
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Lebanese pro-government supporters wave flags at Martyr’s Square in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri’s assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings: Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
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