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Dueling Memorials Shake Beirut

Posted Feb 14, 08 8:16 AM CST in World 

(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.

Source Al Jazeera

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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....   (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...   (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,...   (Associated Press)
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Syria • Lebanon • Hezbollah • Rafiq al-Hariri • Imad Mughniyeh


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