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Dueling Memorials Shake Beirut

Thousands gather to honor Hariri, Mughniyeh

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 14, 2008 8:16 AM CST
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(Newser) – Tension is high and security tight across Beirut today as thousands gathered for two opposing memorials—one marking the third anniversary of the assassination of anti-Syrian PM Rafiq al-Hariri, the other a funeral for top Hezbollah commander Imad Moghniyeh. More than 8,000 army and international troops are trying to ensure violence does not break out between the anti-Syrian Hariri demonstrators and pro-Syrian Hezbollah mourners.

With steady rain in Beirut today, al Jazeera reports that many are staying home and “hoping that today passes without incident.” Hariri's assassination sparked a wave of political turmoil that has left Lebanon without a president or parliament. But Moghniyeh's death in a car bomb Tuesday has many pointing fingers directly at Israel amid calls to re-engage the July 2006 war.

A worker at a printing shop works on a picture of slain Hezbollah top commander Imad Mughniyeh as they prepare for his Thursday's funeral in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. Imad Mughniyeh, the suspected mastermind of vicious attacks on the U.S. Embassy and...
A worker at a printing shop works on a picture of slain Hezbollah top commander Imad Mughniyeh as they prepare for his Thursday's funeral in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon Wednesday, Feb. 13,...   (Associated Press)
Lebanese pro-government supporters gather near Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of former Prime Minister 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...
Lebanese pro-government supporters gather near Martyrs' Square in downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008....   (Associated Press)
Lebanese pro-government supporters stand atop a bus and wave their country's flags as they head to downtown Beirut. 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...
Lebanese pro-government supporters stand atop a bus and wave their country's flags as they head to downtown Beirut. Throngs of Lebanese were turning out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings. Shiite...   (Associated Press)
Lebanese pro-government supporters wave their country's flags as they ride in buses heading to 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...
Lebanese pro-government supporters wave their country's flags as they ride in buses heading to downtown Beirut to mark the third anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination, Lebanon Thursday, Feb. 14,...   (Associated Press)
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A timeline of events since Hariri's killing
Reuters

No one wins in Lebanon, Syria fight
Daily Star (Lebanon)

 
Lebanon • Syria • Hezbollah • Imad Mughniyeh • Rafiq al-Hariri

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