BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hundred of thousands of Lebanese bid farewell on Wednesday to anti-Syrian publisher and lawmaker Gebran Tueni, turning his funeral into an outpouring of anger against Damascus, which they blame for his murder.Tueni’s assassination on Monday has caused serious political rifts in Lebanon, bringing the government to the verge of collapse.
Many thousands, most of them waving Lebanese flags, answered a call by anti-Syrian politicians for a large turnout at Tueni’s funeral, carrying his flag-draped coffin on their shoulders through the streets of central Beirut to the Greek Orthodox church where a service will be held. Pls click "READ MORE" to view pictures.
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, draped in a Lebanese flag, in front of a poster of Tueni decorating the offices of An-Nahar newspaper, during the funeral procession of Tueni and his two bodyguards, in down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Oussama Ayoub)
AP – 20 minutes ago
Lebanese mourners march while carrying the coffins of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards, draped in Lebanese flags, during their funeral procession in the Parliament Square, down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – 27 minutes ago
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, in front the Lebanese parliamant house, during his funeral procession, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 21 minutes ago
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni as they enter inside a Greek Orthodox church, during his funeral procession, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 32 minutes ago
Friends and family mourn over the three coffins of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards during a prayer at the Greek Orthodox church during their funeral procession, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 29 minutes ago
A Lebanese mourner raises a placard in front of a poster of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, decorating An-Nahar newspaper’s building, in down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. The placard reflects Lebanese fear that other anti-Syrian figures might be targeted for rejecting Syria’s domination of Lebanon, which ended last April. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 56 minutes ago
A Lebanese protester waves a Lebanese flag while sitting on a traffic sign in front of a poster of anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni decorating the offices of An-Nahar newspaper during the funeral procession of Tueni and his two bodyguards, in down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 56 minutes ago
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni during his funeral procession, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. The portrait behind the coffin shows Tueni.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
A giant V-sign, painted with the colors of the Lebanese flag, is raised in front of a poster of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, decorating An-Nahar newspaper’s building, in down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Marwan Assaf)
AP – 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
Siham Tueni, right, the widow of An-Nahar general manager and anti-Syrian lawmaker, Gibran Tueni, who was killed in a car bombing Monday, mourns over her husband’s coffin with Gebran’s father Ghassan Tueni, left, and Gebran’s uncle Marwan Hamadeh, center, during his funeral procession, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 11 minutes ago-
A Lebanese woman throws rice at the mourners carrying the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, draped in a Lebanese flag, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
A Lebanese anti-Syrian protester holds a giant hand sign painted with colors of the Lebanese flag, during the funeral procession of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
A Lebanese anti-Syrian protester holds a placard reading ‘Enough’ during the funeral procession of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, draped in a Lebanese flag, in front of a poster of Tueni on the An-Nahar newspaper’s building, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
A Lebanese anti-Syrian protester holds a placard denouncing Syria during the funeral procession of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
A Lebanese anti-Syrian protester holds a placard against Syria during the funeral procession of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
Lebanese Nayla Tueni, foreground left, daughter of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, mourns over the coffin of her father, draped in a Lebanese flag, while his widow, Siham, background right, and his father Ghassan Tueni, background left, are comforted by relatives during Tueni’s funeral, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
Nayla Tueni, daughter of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, lays a flower as she mourns over the coffin of her father, draped in a Lebanese flag, during Tueni’s funeral, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – Dec 14 5:07 AM-
Nayla Tueni, foreground left, daughter of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, reacts during her father’s funeral, while her grandfather Ghassan Tueni, center, and Tueni’s widow, Siham, background right, mourn over his coffin, draped in a Lebanese flag, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – Dec 14 5:08 AM
Nadia Tueni, foreground, daughter of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, reacts over the coffin of her father, draped in a Lebanese flag, while she is comforted by her grandfather Ghassan Tueni, background right, and other relatives, during Tueni’s funeral, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. (AP Photo/Fadi Issa)
AP – Dec 14 4:54 AM
Lebanese mourners carry the coffins of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards draped in a Lebanese flag, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, bid farewell to their leading newspaper editor Gibran Tueni, marching behind his coffin Wednesday in a display of anger against Syria that has been blamed for the car bombing which killed him Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Dec 14 4:14 AM
Siham Tueni, top center, widow of slain Lebanese anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, mourns while marching behind the coffin of her husband, draped in a Lebanese flag, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, bid farewell to their leading newspaper editor Gibran Tueni, marching behind his coffin Wednesday in a display of anger against Syria that has been blamed for the car bombing which killed him Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Dec 14 3:20 AM
Nayla Tueni, daughter of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, mourns as she lays her hand on her father’s coffin, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, bid farewell to their leading newspaper editor Gibran Tueni, marching behind his coffin Wednesday in a display of anger against Syria that has been blamed for the car bombing which killed him Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Dec 14 3:06 AM
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, draped in a Lebanese flag, in front of a poster of Tueni, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla
Canadian Press – Dec 14 2:42 AM
- Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, draped in a Lebanese flag, in front of a poster of Tueni, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, bid farewell to their leading newspaper editor Gibran Tueni, marching behind his coffin Wednesday in a display of anger against Syria that has been blamed for the car bombing which killed him Monday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Dec 14 2:28 AM
A Lebanese man shouts for help for a wounded man near the site of a car bomb explosion in Beirut February 14, 2005. A massive car bomb killed Lebanon‘s former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri on Beirut’s waterfront on Tuesday, witnesses and security sources said. At least eight others, some of them his bodyguards, also died. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2005
Reuters – Dec 14 12:54 AM
Siham Tueini, widow of slain Lebanese lawmaker and journalist Gebran Tueini, cries as the family received condolences at a church in Beirut. Lebanon grappled with fresh political turmoil as it mourned the killing of Tueni, while the United States ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
AFP – Dec 13 10:20 AM
Lebanese protestors hold up a picture of slain anti-Syrian journalist and MP Gibran Tueini, in front of the building of An-Nahar newspaper in Beirut. Lebanon grappled with fresh political turmoil as it mourned the killing of Tueni, while the United States ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)
AFP – Dec 13 10:20 AM
A Lebanese man reads a newspaper with the news of yesterday’s car bomb attack that killed lawmaker and journalist Gebran Tueini in Beirut. Lebanon grappled with fresh political turmoil as it mourned the killing of Tueni, while the United States ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus.(AFP/Anwar Amro)
AFP – Dec 13 10:20 AM
A Lebanese protester holds a picture of anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, who was killed in a car bombing Monday, during a vigil to condemn his assassination, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005. The slaying of a prominent anti-Syrian journalist in a bomb blast stoked Lebanese anger at Damascus to a new peak Tuesday and increased momentum for a U.N. inquiry into a string of such killings and a tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of a former prime minister. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – Dec 13 10:17 AM-
- Lebanese mourners carry the coffins of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni and his two bodyguards draped in a Lebanese flag, in the Beirut district of Ashrafieh, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to an anti-Syrian critic slain this week in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 18 minutes ago
- A Lebanese protester raises a placard in front of a poster of slain anti-Syrian journalist and legislator Gibran Tueni, decorating the offices of An-Nahar newspaper, during the funeral procession of Tueni and his two bodyguards, in down town Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese, both Christian and Muslim, poured into the streets Wednesday to bid farewell to anti-Syrian critic Tueni slain Monday in a car bombing, marching behind his coffin in a massive protest against the Syrian government many blame for his death. The placard reflects Lebanese fear that other anti-Syrian figures might be targeted for rejecting Syria’s domination of Lebanon, which ended last April. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 17 minutes ago
The 48-year-old Tueni was among the most fiery critics of Damascus, publishing his biting editorials on the front-page of his an-Nahar newspaper, Lebanon’s leading daily.
Many Lebanese politicians have blamed Syria for Tueni’s murder, though Damascus has been quick to deny any involvement.
"Can no one say ‘no’ in this country without being killed?" asked Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who campaigned for Syria’s withdrawal, in a call to LBC television on Tuesday night.
"I am threatened now … If what they want is to silence every opposition voice, then until when?"
A Lebanese flag was draped over Tueni’s seat in parliament, which held a special session in his honour on Wednesday. A large banner bearing Tueni’s picture was draped over the headquarters of an-Nahar in downtown Beirut.
RIFTS IN LEBANON
In Martry’s Square, the crowds also repeated the vow Tueni led them in making on the same spot at a symbolic March 14 rally: "We swear by God Almighty, Muslims and Christians, to remain united and defend great Lebanon forever and ever."
Sanaa Mansour, dressed from head to toe in a black Islamic cloak, said: "We are here to show solidarity with all Lebanese, Muslims and Christians, and to call for an end to this series of deaths and for the complete liberation of our country."
Five Shi’ite Muslim ministers loyal to Hizbollah and its Amal ally suspended participation in the government after it voted on Monday night to seek a U.N. inquiry into all the attacks that have rocked Lebanon over the past 14 months.
It also called for a tribunal with an "international character" to try suspects in the murder of Hariri.
The head of a U.N. inquiry into Hariri’s assassination told the Security Council on Tuesday that the investigation could take years unless Syria speeds up its cooperation.
Detlev Mehlis has implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials in the murder and identified six Syrians as suspects.
The Security Council also considered a resolution that France, the United States and Britain are proposing to extend the Hariri probe, which ends on Thursday, for six months.
The draft would expand the commission’s mandate "to include investigations on the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Lebanon since Oct 1, 2004 at the discretion of the commission."
(Additional reporting by Ayat Basma)
