Our sincere condoleances to the gemayel Family and the Kataeb party and this great loss to Lebanon. Pierre Gemayel a unique asset to Lebanon.
BEIRUT, Lebanon – Prominent anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, his Phalange Party Voice of Lebanon radio station reported. The shooting will certainly heighten the political tension in Lebanon.
Gemayel was rushed to a nearby hospital, according to the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. and the Voice of Lebanon, the Phalange Party mouthpiece reported. The party later announced that he was dead.Gemayel, the minister of industry and son of former President Amin Gemayel.He was named for his grandfather, who founded the Phalange Party in 1936 to exert Christian power in Lebanon. It dominated Christian politics for decades after Lebanon’s independence from France in 1943.
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Amin Gemayel served as Lebanon’s president from 1982 to 1988. He was elected by parliament after the assassination of his brother, Bashir, who was chosen president but was killed a few days before he was to take office.
During the civil war, the Phalange had the largest militia that fought Palestinian guerrillas. The death of the senior Pierre Gemayel in 1983, the shrinking Christian community and internal dissent have seriously weakened the party, which could not get its own leader elected to parliament in 2000.
Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel past a poster of him in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon, November 22, 2006.
Relatives of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel react next to his coffin in his house in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon, November 22, 2006.
Lebanese men carry the coffin of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon November 22, 2006. Hundreds of Lebanese mourners pressed on Wednesday to touch the coffin of Gemayel whose assassination, blamed by his allies on Syria , stoked fears of more killings and a surge in factional violence.
Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel is seen leaving the parliament house in Beirut in this November 13, 2006 file photograph. Gunmen on Tuesday assassinated Lebanese Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , plunging Lebanon deeper into a crisis over ties with its dominant neighbour.
Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel is seen in this undated file photo. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said November 21, 2006.
Lebanese police inspect cars from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006.
Lebanese police inspect cars from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006.
Lebanese police inspect a car from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006.
Blood is seen in a car from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006.
Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel is seen leaving the parliament house in Beirut in this November 13, 2006 file photograph. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said November 21, 2006. REUTERS/Stringer
Lebanese police inspect cars from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese police inspect a car from Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s convoy, near Beirut, November 21, 2006. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said. REUTERS/Georges Maroun
Prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel holds a mobile phone as he enters the Lebanese Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, in this March 2, 2006, file Photo. Gemayel, an anti-Syrian politician and scion of Lebanon‘s most prominent Christian family, was gunned down Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006 in an assassination that heightened tensions amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Syria that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government.
A general view of the scene were prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in the Jdeideh suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday Nov. 21, 2006. Gemayel, an anti-Syrian politician and scion of Lebanon‘s most prominent Christian family, was gunned down Tuesday, in an assassination that heightened tensions amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Syria that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government.
Angry Lebanese protesters scuffle with Lebanese army soldiers who try to calm down their reaction to the assassination of prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday Nov. 21, 2006. Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, increasing tensions in Lebanon amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Damascus that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government. Gemayel, the industry minister, was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in the past two years and the first member of the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to be slain.
Two supporters of anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel, who was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, grieve outside the emergency ward at St. Josephs’s hospital where his body was taken, in the Jdeideh suburb of eastern Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. The assassination came amid a political showdown between opponents and allies of Damascus that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government.
Street side garbage containers block roads, after they were set fire by angry Christian protesters in reaction of the assassination of prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday Nov. 21, 2006. Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, increasing tensions in Lebanon amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Damascus that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government. Gemayel, the industry minister, was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in the past two years and the first member of the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to be slain.
Supporters of assasinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel show their anger by stepping on a poster General Michel Aoun in Ashrafieh. Gemayel was gunned down in a Beirut suburb, the latest victim in a spate of attacks on anti-Syrian politicians, and angry voices quickly blamed Damascus.
A Lebanese inspector takes evidences from the damaged vehicle at the site where prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel was assassinated, in Jdeideh suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. Gemayel was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, increasing tensions in Lebanon amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Damascus that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government. Gemayel, the industry minister, was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in the past two years and the first member of the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to be slain.
Furious supporters of prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel, who was assassinated in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, shout anti-Hezbollah chants whilst one carries a poster of Gemayel, at the St. Josephs’s hospital where his body was brought in the Jdeideh suburb of eastern Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. The assassination came amid a political showdown between opponents and allies of Damascus that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government.
Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, father of assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, speaks to journalists as he leaves St. Joseph hospital, near Beirut, November 21, 2006. Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday, security sources said. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum
Reuters via Yahoo! News – 33 minutes ago
Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel(C-L), father of assasinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, and his sister Arzeh leave St Joseph hospital in Jdeideh, outside Beirut. Pierre Gemayel was gunned down in a Beirut suburb, the latest victim in a spate of attacks on anti-Syrian politicians, and angry voices quickly blamed Damascus.
AFP via Yahoo! News – 53 minutes ago
A Lebanese woman carries a picture of assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in the Christian town of Bekfaya, northeast of Beirut, November 21. Lebanon was in turmoil as it began three days of mourning for an anti-Syrian minister gunned down in an attack that stoked fears the country may again be plunged into civil strife.
Former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel (L), father of assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel (portrait), and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora (C) attend a meeting of anti-Syrian political leaders in Beirut, November 21. Lebanon was in turmoil as it began three days of mourning for an anti-Syrian minister gunned down in an attack that stoked fears the country may again be plunged into civil strife.
Lebanese mourners wave Phalange Party (foregrond and back) and Lebanese Forces flags as they carry the coffin of assassinated Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel through his hometown Bikfaya, in the mountains northeast of Beirut. Lebanon was in turmoil as it began three days of mourning for an anti-Syrian minister gunned down in an attack that stoked fears the country may again be plunged into civil strife.
Mourners carry the Lebanese flag-draped coffin of assassinated Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in his hometown Bikfaya. Lebanon was in turmoil as it began three days of mourning for an anti-Syrian minister gunned down in an attack that stoked fears the country may again be plunged into civil strife.
AFP via Yahoo! News – 2 hours, 16 minutes ago
Patricia Gemayel, wife of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, reacts as his coffin passes in a street in Bekfaya, Lebanon, November 22, 2006.
Lebanese women react as the coffin of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel passes in a street in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon November 22, 2006. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday. Posters of Gemayel are hanging in the foreground. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Relatives of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel react next to his coffin in his house in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon November 22, 2006. Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese men carry the coffin of Lebanon‘s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in Bekfaya, November 22, 2006.
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Nov 22 4:04 AM
A car stops in front of Lebanese soldiers at a checkpoint in a street in Beirut November 22, 2006. Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , was assassinated near Beirut on Tuesday. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters via Yahoo! News – Nov 22 6:51 AM
A Lebanese soldier searches a man at a checkpoint on a street in Beirut November 22, 2006. The Lebanese army set up checkpoints in Beirut after the assassination of Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , near Beirut on Tuesday. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum
Lebanese soldiers stop cars at a checkpoint on a street in Beirut November 22, 2006. The Lebanese army set up checkpoints in Beirut after the assassination of Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, an outspoken critic of Syria , near Beirut on Tuesday. REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum
Former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel, left, the father Pierre Gemayel, and Lebanese Prime minister Fuad Saniora, center, sit next to a portrait of prominent anti-Syrian Christian politician Pierre Gemayel, right, during a meeting of the anti-Syrian Lebanese leaders at the Phalange party headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006. Gemayel, an anti-Syrian politician and scion of Lebanon’s most prominent Christian family, was gunned down Tuesday, in an assassination that heightened tensions amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Syria that threatens to topple the U.S.-backed government.