Two shot dead at political meeting in Lebanon
Two activists close to Lebanon”s anti-Syrian parliamentary majority were shot dead on Sunday at the opening of a party headquarters in the eastern town of Zahle, a security official said.
Salim Assi and Nasri al-Murani, both members of the Christian Phalange party which is part of the ruling coalition, were killed in a shooting during the inauguration of a Phalange office, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Three other Phalange supporters were wounded in the shooting, which took place at a checkpoint on a road leading to the event, a Phalange spokeswoman told AFP.
Joseph Zouki, a supporter of Zahle opposition MP Elie Skaff, was refused entry through the checkpoint and later returned and allegedly shot at the Phalange security point, the official added.
Lebanese security forces have surrounded the area of Hammar in Zahle where Zouki is thought to be hiding, the official said.
An AFP correspondent in the area said that the entire city of Zahle has been cordoned off with the army setting up checkpoints throughout and conducting thorough checks of all vehicles.
“Today the situation is tense and sensitive, so we would prefer not to comment at this time. . . our priority is to maintain calm in the country,” said Zahle Christian opposition MP Salim Aoun, adding that an official statement would be released on Monday.
Sami Gemayel, the son of Phalange leader and former president Amin Gemeyel, had just left the event at the time of the shooting.
The former president”s son, industry minister Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in November 2006.
The deaths came amid Lebanon”s worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war with the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the rump pro-Western cabinet of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora since its six ministers quit nearly 18 months ago.
The impasse has left the country without a president since pro-Syrian incumbent Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term in November. A total of 17 sessions called to elect a new president have proved abortive.
The next session planned for Tuesday is unlikely to take place.
The army chief, General Michel Sleiman, has emerged as the consensus candidate for the post but the two sides are still feuding over the makeup of a new cabinet.
The wrangling has at times spilled over into street clashes raising fears of a return to civil unrest. Six people were killed in street fighting in Janurary.