Lebanon holds Candlelight Vigil to honor General Hajj

 

Friends , colleagues and relatives of General Francoise al Hajj held a candlelight vigil honoring him and others who were killed and injured in yesterdays explosion.

 

The vigil took place after mass and prayers were held around 6: PM at the Mar Abda Church in Baabda

Tomorrow a funeral will be held for the slain General and will be buried in his home town Rmeish , in south Lebanon.

 

One of the friends of the slain general commented “ Lebanon could soon run out of candles , if this wave of killings continues. When will this stop? “

 

Schools & Business & Industry closed Friday to mourn the General.

 

Lebanon”s Defense Minister Elias Murr announced tomorrow, an official day of mourning.

 

Education Minister Khalid Qabbani announced the closure of all schools, universities and colleges tomorrow “to mourn the martyr Major General Francois Hajj”

 

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fadi Quraytam called for the closure of all business and industrial establishments on Friday ” to mourn the martyr Francois Hajj”

 

Here are some pictures of the candlelight vigil courtesy of AP photographers.

 

Elie Hajj, center, the son of Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj who was killed in a car bombing on Wednesday, joins people as they march at the scene in a candlelit vigil, carrying pictures of the slain officer and saying prayers in Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007.

Relatives and friends of Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj who was killed in a car bombing on Wednesday, pray at the scene during a candle lit vigil in Baabda, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007