Posted on 09/19/2007 9:21:23 AM PDT by mojito
A powerful bomb killed a pro-government Parliament member and six others Wednesday in a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital, security officials said.
The blast targeted Antoine Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
The Voice of Lebanon radio station, which is owned by the Phalange party, also confirmed Ghanem's death. The identities of the others killed were not immediately known.
The attack occurred six days before Parliament was scheduled to meet to elect a new president in a deeply divisive vote. Ghanem is the eighth prominent anti-Syrian figure assassinated since 2005, including three lawmakers from the majority, reducing the ruling party's margin in Parliament.
A local television station, LBC, said 20 people were wounded in the blast, which occurred in the Sin el-Fil district. TV footage showed severe damage in nearby buildings and several cars on fire. The explosion sent a cloud of gray smoke over the area, and blood covered several parts of the street.
The assassination of anti-Syrian figures began with former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive car bombing that year. Syria's opponents in Lebanon have accused Damascus of being behind the killings, a claim Syria denies.
Hariri's death sparked massive protests that helped bring an end to Syria's nearly 30-year domination of Lebanon. Damascus was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in 2005, and a government led by anti-Syrian politicians was elected.
Since then, the government of US-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has been locked in a power struggle with the opposition, led by Syria's ally Hizbullah. Government supporters have accused Syria of seeking to end Saniora's slim majority in parliament by killing off lawmakers in his coalition.
After the assassination of Lebanese Parliament member Walid Eido in June, many majority legislators had to leave the country to spend the summer abroad for security reasons. Others who stayed in Lebanon took extra security.
A landmark hotel near the Parliament building in downtown Beirut has reportedly been rented for majority members to protect them during the 60-day presidential election process, which begins Tuesday.
Funny you should mention this. I used to be a news junkie but gave it up for Lent 3 years ago and never went back. (I get plenty of it on the Internet). This morning, driving to work, a local radio station went down the list of what OJ had consumed, since his imprisonment. For the first time in 3 years, I found myself shouting at the radio ... "Who cares!!!" ... and turned off the radio.
Turn off the news at night. You will be amazed at how your life will improve. You can get all the news you need to know here - AND - post your personal comments :-)
ping
hmmm. . . i wonder who was behind this
meanwhile, the UN is still in stall mode on the Hariri trial
what is the over/under on how many hours until this is blamed on a “Zionist Conspiracy?” Hell, it will probably come from the Lebanese Christians.
On a more serious note, was this in a Maronite or Orthodox area?
“...a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital”
Alas, I am not familiar enough with Beirut to answer your question.
payback.
partial or in full?
given the hush hush over what exactly was hit in Syria (obviously the assumption is it was something very important) . . . i’m going to go with partial
Blackwater might be payback too, but both are sub-rosa.
The man in the street knows about the Syrian nuke plant, he must be...informed...that the Axis of Evil is “winning”.
That would mean “full payment” would include a public spectacle.
did u happen to catch the president’s news conference this A.M. . . he “no commented” twice when asked about the IAF bombing run over Syria
to me that speaks volumes . . . i think the situation is still fluid . . . now just got to figure out what the “situation” is
The lid’s on, for now, but the pot is bubbling merrily.
We just snagged a Qods force officer in Iraq, Does anyone above peon level travel without a laptop these days?
Is it time for another UK patrol to mis-navigate across the border and be captured? Havew the monkeys learned any new tricks? What will Iran do if they try to make a snatch and get waxed?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.